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High Educ (2010) 59:599613 DOI 10.1007/s10734-009-9268-z
Joanna Elizabeth Crossman Marilyn Clarke
Published online: 12 August 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009
Abstract This paper reports the ndings of an Australian qualitative study (N = 45) concerned with the way that employers, academics and students perceived connections between international experience and graduate employability. Drawing on the literature, the authors argue that increasing globalisation and internationalisation has heightened the need for graduates with the ability to operate in culturally diverse contexts. Universities have focussed upon exchange as part of internationalisation to prepare students for work but there is still limited literature on the nature of the relationship between international experience, more broadly and graduate employability. The ndings suggest that all stakeholders identify clear connections between international experience and employability given outcomes associated with the forging of networks, opportunities for experiential learning, language acquisition and the development of soft skills related to cultural understandings, personal characteristics and ways of thinking.
Keywords Higher education Employability International education
Introduction
Over the past 20 years organisations have been increasingly inuenced by the forces of internationalisation and globalisation. Within this context employers have begun to recognise the importance of recruiting personnel with knowledge and understanding of cultural issues, as well as the capacity to manage international relationships and a culturally diverse workforce (Earley et al. 2006, p. 1; Ledwith and Seymour 2001, p. 1292; Mak et al. 1999, p. 64). Similarly, many universities have recognised the importance of an
J. E. Crossman (&)
School of Management, University of South Australia, Elton Mayo Building, City West Campus, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australiae-mail: [email protected]
M. Clarke
Business School, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia e-mail: [email protected]
International experience and graduate employability: stakeholder perceptions on the connection
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international perspective by incorporating global or international elements into their graduate attribute statements (Harvey and Bowers-Brown 2004; Cranmer 2006). These statements transcend programs and go beyond mere skills to encompass broad conceptions of wisdom and knowledge while providing a benchmark for graduate outcomes (Barrie 2004). Yet, despite acceptance of the need for, and value of, an international perspective it is surprising to note that little appears to have been written about the connection between international experience amongst...