Factors Impacting International Students’ Choice in Selecting Canadian graduate Programs

April 4, 2003

Presented by

Liang Chen

Agenda Introduction Background

Academic/Cultural Domain Economic Domain

Issue Statement Challenges “What Don’t We Know?”

Research Questions Methodology

Scope Method

Limitations of the Research Contribution to Knowledge

Introduction

International students are one of the important aspects of the internationalization of education.

They are important for Canadian higher education.They are a unique group of people.We know very little about their perspectives on our

internationalization.This research will provide valuable information and

insights into the study of internationalization.

Background

National Efforts in Internationalization: Many higher education institutions have articulated their

commitment to internationalization in their mission statements.

Three national groups, CBIE, AUCC, and ACCC, are involved in advocacy for internationalization.

How does Canada compare among other industrialized countries in the international student recruitment? In 6th place - U.S., U.K., Australia, Germany, Japan, and

Canada.

Background (con’t) International students are important in two ways:

Academic/Cultural Domain:They ensure a stronger international and intercultural dimension in

learning, teaching and researchThey provide an opportunity for Canadians to understand

international issues, and therefore, we can better help build a safer, freer, and more prosperous world.

Economic Domain:They bring economic benefits to Canada: they contribute some

$3.5 billion to the Canadian economy (the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, 2000)

Four types of benefits: (1) tuition revenue, (2) value of unpaid research, (3) contributions to aggregate demand, and (4) the value of embodied capital in non-returnees (Mehrabi, 1986).

Issue Statement Challenges:

Global demand for international education is on the rise, the demand for graduate level study in Canada remains flat.

Despite marketing efforts in Asia, enrolment is down by 6,000 students from that region.

The Canadian government is considering strategies for having international students choose to study in Canada (Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oct. 2002.)

“What Don’t We Know?” Who are they? What inspires them? Why do they choose to leave their countries? Why do they choose Canada? What is the process when they choose to study abroad? What factors determine their final decision?

We know very little about them.

The Purpose of the ResearchThree Main Purposes:

To examine the international students’ decision-making process on the choice of country, city, institution, and program.

To identify factors influencing their choice. To explore factors influencing their decision

whether to stay or return home after completing their studies.

The Research Questions What is the international students’ decision-making process in selecting a

graduate program? What are the main decision-making factors related to economics, politics,

location, institution, or other? What are the factors leading to international students choosing Canada as a

destination for higher education? What are the characteristics differentiating Canada from other English

speaking countries in respect to the culture, people, geography, history, and ideology?

What are the strengths of Canadian higher education? What are the unique features that Canadian higher education offers?

What factors are important in international students’ decision to seek employment in Canada or return home after completing their studies?

MethodologyScope

Limited to the significance of the representation of the international student groups in Canada.

International students from East-Asian countries, enroll in the first year graduate program in the GTA universities.

Defining “Graduate Program”

MethodologyScope

Rationale:East-Asian international students: 42% of international students in Canada in

1999-2000. China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan represent almost one-fifth of the

graduate level enrolment.Graduate level: international students represent 30% of total graduate

enrolment (12% at master’s level and 18.1% at the doctoral level). Approximately one quarter of the total doctoral degrees (4,100 annually) are granted to international students.

Graduate students bring all four types of economic benefits.Ontario: Ontario hosts the highest number of international students (33,769)

representing 32% of the total international student population; it hosts the second highest number of international graduate students (4,025) representing 28% of the total international graduate student population.

GTA: Two universities - University of Toronto and York University - are ranked in the top 10 for international graduate enrolment in Canada.

MethodologyMethod

Qualitative research approach to gain an in-depth knowledge of international student’s choice factors.

It will involve focus groups, interviews, and surveys. The interviews will be semi-structured to allow for all

possible factors that may be discovered during the research process.

MethodologyMethod

Literature Review: Refining the QuestionsThis research will explore relevant student choice factors

from five perspectives: (1) economics, (2) politics, (3) location, (4) institution, and (5) other.

Domain of Literature Review:• Internationalization of Education

• International Education (curriculum)

• College Choice

• Economics of Education - Costs and Benefits

• Creativity - Economic and Social Aspects

• Student Mobility

International Student Choice Factors

PoliticsImmigration policy (student visa policy, process and procedures)International education policies of host countryInternational education policies of home country

Other FactorsFamily, Friends,

Employers, Educational Agencies…

LocationDiversity and creativity of a cityEmployment prospectsEase of integration into the community.

Economic FactorCosts and Benefits of

foreign graduate studies

International Students’ Choice of a Canadian Graduate

Program

InstitutionReputation of the institutionProgram of interestFacultyStrength of the networkLevel of financial aid availableInstitutional marketing efforts

MethodologyMethod

Student Focus Group Institutional Focus Group Survey Design Conducting Survey Tabulating Results Conducting In-depth Interviews Analysis of Results Conclusion and Recommendation

Limitations of the Research It does not reflect the reality of graduate programs outside of

GTA. Institutional and City level factors may not be applicable to

other cities across Canada. Study on East-Asian international students might not be

applicable to students from other regions of the world. It will not examine the factors that influence the influencers

such as family, friends, employers, and educational agencies. However, much of the research will provide a reference point

to other groups of students and to other cities and institutions within Canada.

Contribution to Knowledge To add to the knowledge of internationalization of

education from the international students’ perspective. The findings will provide insights to institutions or

governments that would like to address the following issues: What strategy and recruiting activities have successfully

impacted on the international students’ choice? What factors can be manipulated to enhance the objectives of

internationalization of education at the institutional and governmental levels?

What activities should be modified and resources be redirected to realize the desired outcomes?