International Student Mobility: An Identity Development Task?
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Author
Severino, Sergio
Messina, Roberta
Llorent García, Vicente J.
Publisher
Center for Promoting IdeasDate
2014Subject
International student mobilityInternationalization
Education
Identity formation processes
Study abroad
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Show full item recordAbstract
Based on the review of literature on internationalization of education and on identity formation pro
cesses in
young adults, this cross
-
sectional study aims to investigate to which extent self
-
perceived dimensions of identity
are associated to the main moti
vations to study abroad.
The
participants in this study were 429
international
university students of different nationalities. Findings revealed that the motivation to study abroa
d for personal
growth is strongly associated to the commitment and in
-
depth e
xploration
identity
processes, whereas
the
motivation to study abroad with the aim
of changing
life style and enlarging
job opportunities is positively
associated with reconsideration of commitment and in
-
depth exploration. Furthermore,
identity achieved s
tudents
showed the highest motivation to s
tudy abroad for personal growth,
while
the motivation to study abroad to
positively change
life
-
styles and work conditions
is strongly associated with the positive facet of identity crisis,
which is otherwise calle
d searching
-
moratorium status.
Based on these results, the present
survey provides useful
questions and hypothesis for future research