Reverse flow in academic mobility from core to periphery: motivations of international faculty working in Kazakhstan

Through expanding flows of labor and knowledge on a global scale, academics are increasingly mobile as higher education institutions compete for talent that transcends borders. However, talent often flows from the periphery to the core as scholars seek out employment in recognized institutions of hi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Higher education 2018-08, Vol.76 (2), p.369-386
Main Authors: Lee, Jack T, Kuzhabekova, Aliya
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ability
Age Differences
Analysis
Ausland
Borders
Career Development
Center and periphery
College Faculty
Education
Emigration and immigration
Employee motivation
Employment
Faculty Mobility
Foreign Countries
Foreign Nationals
Higher Education
Human agency
Institution building
Intellectuals
Kasachstan
Labor Market
Labor mobility
Learning
Lehre
Marital Status
Mobility
Mobilität
Persuasion
Program Development
Relocation
Residence
Student
Studium
Teacher Attitudes
Teacher Characteristics
Teacher Salaries
Work
Work Environment
Working conditions
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Summary:Through expanding flows of labor and knowledge on a global scale, academics are increasingly mobile as higher education institutions compete for talent that transcends borders. However, talent often flows from the periphery to the core as scholars seek out employment in recognized institutions of higher learning in developed economies. This study examines faculty mobility in a reverse direction: from the core to Kazakhstan, the largest country in Central Asia. What factors persuade faculty members to relocate to Kazakhstan for full-time employment? What types of individuals pursue this relocation? Through interviews with international faculty members based in Kazakhstan, the study identifies push factors that trigger departure from one's previous country of residence: job market, unsatisfactory work conditions, age, and marital status. Alternatively, Kazakhstan attracts scholars via pull factors that include salary, sense of adventure, and the opportunity to build new institutions and programs as well as conduct research. Unlike previous studies that highlight boundaryless mobility and individual agency, this study reveals constraints that mediate international faculty mobility. Furthermore, salary plays a limited role as a pull factor particularly among early career academics who are seeking research opportunities and meaningful contributions in building new academic programs and institutions. (HRK / Abstract übernommen).
ISSN:0018-1560
1573-174X
DOI:10.1007/s10734-017-0213-2