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Examining the Motivations Underlying International Students’ Migration Behaviors: the Case of Master’s Students in Spain

Author

Listed:
  • Rita Rueff-Lopes

    (Esade, Ramon Llull University)

  • Josep Sayeras

    (Esade, Ramon Llull University)

  • Ferran Velasco

    (EADA Business School)

Abstract

This study aims to examine the motivations that international graduate students have to either migrate or return home after completing their master’s degree in Spain, one of the most important and yet under-researched host countries in the international European education arena. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 63 international students graduated in a business field of a top-tier highly international private university. Through thematic analysis, we extracted 113 themes, 70 from the group that decided to migrate and 43 from the group that decided to return to their home country. These themes were classified under 13 motivation categories, 5 of them being work-related and 8 non-work-related, thus resulting in a 2 × 2 factor model. Work-related motivations to migrate included the perception of better career opportunities and the desire to work for an ideal company. Salary played a limited role. Non-work-related motivations to migrate included having a global identity, which to our knowledge has not been identified before, and not returning home for political reasons. Work-related motivations for returning included not seeing job opportunities abroad and seeing higher job opportunities in the home country. Non-work-related motivations for returning included the pandemic, personal motivations, and mobility restrictions. Results from this case study bring new insights about the phenomenological motivations of this population for deciding whether to pursue an international career or not and can therefore help professionals like policy makers and career advisors to develop and implement appropriate measures to support their decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Rita Rueff-Lopes & Josep Sayeras & Ferran Velasco, 2024. "Examining the Motivations Underlying International Students’ Migration Behaviors: the Case of Master’s Students in Spain," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 309-329, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joimai:v:25:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1007_s12134-023-01072-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s12134-023-01072-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Govert E. Bijwaard & Qi Wang, 2016. "Return Migration of Foreign Students," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 32(1), pages 31-54, February.
    2. Jeffrey Grogger & Gordon H. Hanson, 2015. "Attracting Talent: Location Choices of Foreign-Born PhDs in the United States," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 33(S1), pages 5-38.
    3. Metka Hercog & Mindel Laar, 2017. "Motivations and Constraints of Moving Abroad for Indian Students," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 749-770, August.
    4. Christina Davenport & Will Moore & Steven Poe, 2003. "Sometimes You Just Have to Leave: Domestic Threats and Forced Migration, 1964-1989," International Interactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(1), pages 27-55, January.
    5. Jihui Chen & Qihong Liu & Sherrilyn Billger, 2013. "Where Do New Ph.D. Economists Go? Recent Evidence from Initial Labor Market," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 34(3), pages 312-338, September.
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