Internationalization & Career-focused Programming for International Students: A Qualitative Study of Universities in Canada

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dc.contributor.advisorDressler, Roswita
dc.contributor.authorReichert, Philipp
dc.contributor.committeememberWinchester, Ian
dc.contributor.committeememberHeilke, Thomas W.
dc.contributor.committeememberKawalilak, Colleen A.
dc.contributor.committeememberCorbett, Michael
dc.date2020-02
dc.date.accessioned2020-01-03T20:59:48Z
dc.date.available2020-01-03T20:59:48Z
dc.date.issued2020-01
dc.description.abstractThe past two decades have seen a rapid increase in the number of international students attending higher education institutions (HEI’s) in countries around the world. The relationship between HEIs, governments, and students are often symbiotic in nature; students consider further education as a platform for career development, HEIs pursue the diversification of income and increased prestige/rankings, while governments’ attention is dedicated to the retention of skilled labour that will support and sustain national economies. Although policy makers promote the position that international students are ideal or “designer” immigrants with their education, language abilities, and cultural experiences, there are indications that international students face a number of challenges in transitioning from studies to career. Recent surveys show that 60 percent of international student respondents indicated that they plan to apply for permanent residency (PR) in Canada after graduation, combined with the increased importance of employability outcomes for international students. Given the importance of employability outcomes for students, this qualitative mixed-methods research examined the career-focused programming provided at Canadian universities. The main research question that guided this study was: What approaches are universities in Canada taking to support international students in the development of professional or career-focused skills? Participants were managers and directors from 7 universities across Canada. Three methods were used to collect data for this study: surveys, semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Three key discourses from the interviews emerged: university as a steppingstone for immigration; universities as a source of international student support; and universities as connectors to employers and regions. Research findings indicate that various factors influence career-focused programming for international students including location, size of the institution and other contextual factors. Innovative and engaging career-focused programming, with an intercultural lens provides an excellent leadership opportunity for universities to support their international student population, while simultaneously developing the competencies of domestic students to work in an increasingly global environment.en_US
dc.identifier.citationReichert, P. (2020). Internationalization & career-focused programming for international students: a qualitative study of universities in Canada (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/37402
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/111425
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisher.facultyWerklund School of Educationen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en_US
dc.subjectPGWPen_US
dc.subjectIRCCen_US
dc.subjectImmigrationen_US
dc.subjectInternationalizationen_US
dc.subjectInternational Studentsen_US
dc.subjectStudy and stay programsen_US
dc.subjectEmployabilityen_US
dc.subjectCanadian immigration policyen_US
dc.subjectCareer Programmingen_US
dc.subject.classificationEducationen_US
dc.titleInternationalization & Career-focused Programming for International Students: A Qualitative Study of Universities in Canadaen_US
dc.typedoctoral thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineEducation Graduate Program – Educational Researchen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Education (EdD)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
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