Exploring inbound international student mobility in Colombia

Abstract

Research on internationalisation of higher education with a focus on the area of student mobility have examined mostly the movement of students from developing to developed countries. In recent years, this traditional flow of students has shifted from one where countries which were usually conceived as only senders have become receivers of international students. Although countries in Latin America are receiving more students year by year, few research has been conducted to identify the motivations which drive them to study in this region.

This country-specific study aims at exploring two phenomena: 1) the drivers of inbound credit mobility in Colombia and 2) the experiences of international students during their study abroad period. An online survey was applied to collect data from students at universities throughout Colombia and a descriptive apporach was used to analyse quantitative and qualitative data. An adaptated push-pull model was used as the theoretical framework to investigate student mobility. The findings suggest that the most influential rationales behind students’ choice of Colombia as a study abroad destination are related to personal and career development factors. In regard to personal drivers, students coming to this country were pulled by desire to broaden their cultural horizons by appreciating the Colombian cultural diversity and to know more about the Latin American region. As for career development motivations, students sought to gain skills to work in a globalised labour market and to improve their future career prospects. The results of this study show that students’ experiences in the country are positive despite the several negative aspects that affected their stay in the country. This study is the first endeavour addressing international inbound student mobility in Colombia. It seeks to contribute to the production of scientific literature regarding academic mobility in the Latin American region and to provide policy makers and higher education administrators with valuable information to better understand why are foreigners interested in spending a period of study in Colombia, so that both the government and the institutions improve their strategies to attract more students in the future.