International Student Mobility in Higher Education in China: Tensions between Policies and Practices

Under globalization, the Internationalization of Higher Education (IHE) has intensified. International Student Mobility (ISM) as a key part of IHE has attracted more attention as well. China, traditionally an exporter of students, is becoming a popular host country for international students as well. By examining relevant policies and international students’ experiences, this study constructs a comprehensive portrait of ISM in China. Analyzing the ISM policy and student perspectives with attention to underlying ideologies of IHE (Stier, 2004) illuminates the tensions between the policies and practices. At the policy level, instrumentalism is the primary ideology driving the Chinese government and the university’s approach to ISM; but from the perspective of international students, educationalism is representative of their primary motives for studying in China. In the light of the findings, recommendations for policy revision are provided.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Ed

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Chen, Kang

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Paul Tarc

• internationalization of higher education
• international student mobility
• Chinese incoming international student
• policy
• motivations
• tensions

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/34005

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/34005