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Staying local or going back: A study on international university graduates’ mobility

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  • Tai Ming Wut
  • Jing (Bill) Xu
  • Carmen Ka-man Sum

Abstract

Upon graduation, international students studying abroad often have to decide whether to stay local or return home. We investigate university graduates’ mobility from the perspective of social capital theory. An empirical study of mainland Chinese university students’ intention to remain in Hong Kong upon completion of their university studies was conducted. An online survey was used to recruit the participants. In total, 155 valid questionnaires were received, with a response rate of 40.8%. Structural capital and relational capital were found to be the important factors affecting mainland Chinese students’ intention to stay in a linear manner. Cognitive capital self-moderated the relationship between cognitive capital and intention to stay. Cognitive capital affected the intention to stay in a non-linear way. We make a unique contribution to the field by showing that 1) the effect of cognitive capital is quadratic rather than linear; 2) relational capital is more important to female students than to male students; and 3) structural capital is more important to senior year university degree students than to junior year degree students. The theoretical and managerial implications of these findings are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Tai Ming Wut & Jing (Bill) Xu & Carmen Ka-man Sum, 2022. "Staying local or going back: A study on international university graduates’ mobility," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(8), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0268821
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268821
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Collings, David G., 2014. "Integrating global mobility and global talent management: Exploring the challenges and strategic opportunities," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(2), pages 253-261.
    2. Sarah L Holloway & Sarah L O'Hara & Helena Pimlott-Wilson, 2012. "Educational Mobility and the Gendered Geography of Cultural Capital: The Case of International Student Flows between Central Asia and the UK," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 44(9), pages 2278-2294, September.
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