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Volume 46, Issue 4, 2016, Pages 533-559

The flow of international students from a macro perspective: a network analysis (Article)

Barnett G.A. , Lee M. , Jiang K. , Park H.W.*
  • a Department of Communication, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
  • b Faculty of Education, Science, Technology and Mathematics, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
  • c Department of Communication, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
  • d Department of Media and Communication, YeungNam University, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

Abstract

This paper provides a network analysis of the international flow of students among 210 countries and the factors determining the structure of this flow. Among these factors, bilateral hyperlink connections between countries and the number of telephone minutes (communication variables) are the most important predictors of the flow’s structure, followed by trade, the physical distance between countries, a common border between countries and a common language between two countries. The USA is by far the most central country in the flow of international students, followed by China, the UK, France, Germany, Australia and India. These results are discussed in light of World-System Theory. Future research should examine how the network of international student flows changes over time and consider additional factors to provide a better understanding of the network as an international system. © 2015 British Association for International and Comparative Education.

Author Keywords

Internationalisation of higher education Network analysis globalisation and international higher education mobility of students flow of international students

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84961291293&doi=10.1080%2f03057925.2015.1015965&partnerID=40&md5=b4a4a1c1c5772723d23c831e8be627b8
DOI: 10.1080/03057925.2015.1015965
ISSN: 03057925
Cited by: 22
Original Language: English