Central Florida
The Education Pathway Through Social and Economic Integration of Highly Educated Immigrants: The Case of Colombians in the United States of America
Abstract
dc:description.abstractDeveloped countries have promoted immigration of educated people as a strategy to satisfy the demand for educated labor. Highly educated immigrants' poor language skills, absence of cultural networks, and lack of credentials and recognized professional experience gained in the country of origin are barriers to their social and economic integration (Ferrer & Riddell, 2008; Mattoo, Neagu, & ?zden, 2008; Miranda & Umhoefer, 1998; Zikic, Bonache, & Cerdin, 2010). The purpose of this study was to explore how college experiences in an American college or university facilitate or hinder the transfer and gain of different forms of capital among highly educated Colombia immigrants. All of the participants in this study completed at least a bachelor's degree before moving to the United States and came to this country under any visa category except that of student. Two in-depth interviews were conducted with six Colombian immigrants living in the state of Florida. The results of the study revealed five common themes shared by the participants: (1) exposure and exchange of different forms of thinking and cultural expressions; (2) performing in ways that meet requirements of American institutions; (3) achieving credentials recognized by professionals in the United States' job market and social structure; (4) capacity to assess their own abilities and take control of their future; and (5) connections that provide social, emotional, and intellectual support as well as information.
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Bedoya Arturo, Olga
- Contributors dc:contributor
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- Cintron Delgado, Rosa
Subjects
dc:subject × 9Rights
- Language dc:language
- English
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Identifier
- CFE0005923
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:stars.library.ucf.edu:etd-2352