This study examined the influence of personal, university experiences and labor market factors on international students' choice of working in Taiwan after graduation. Personal factors are individualistic features such as feelings, family ties and career perceptions. University experiences include everything that university life offers. Labor market factors cover all those features of Taiwan's labor market.
The main purpose was to discover the connections between personal factors, university experiences, labour market factors and international students' choice of working in Taiwan after graduation. Other purposes were to build an integrated model and provide a descriptive overview of the factors influencing international students' choice of working in Taiwan. By so doing, the study aimed to boost Taiwan's capacity of retaining international graduates as potential future and professional talent for the country. This is made necessary the transition of countries' economies to innovation-based economies which raises the demand for professional talent. In turn, the demand for professional talent caused the current "global war for talent". This war pushed countries including Taiwan to devise policies such as the National Human Resource Development (NHRD) action program and other strategies to attract and retain foreign talent to supplement locally undersupplies of talented workers. Primary data was collected from 205 international students who are currently studying in Taiwan universities. The Statistical Software for Social Sciences (SPSS) and SmartPLS3 were used to analyze the collected data. Results showed that indeed personal factors, university experiences and labor market factors have an influence on international students’ choice of working in the country after completing their studies. It was also discovered that university experiences and labor market factors mediate the influence of personal factors on international students’ choice of working in Taiwan after graduation.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Problem Statement
Significance of the Study
Research Purposes
Research Questions
Delimitations of the Study
Definition of Terms
CHAPTER II. LITERATURE REVIEW
Personal Factors
University Experiences
Labour Market Factors
International Students’ Choice of Working in Taiwan
Hypotheses Development
CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY
Research Framework
Research Method and Procedure
Measurement
Data Collection
Validity and Reliability
Results of Demographic Data Analysis
Factors Influencing International Students’ Choice of Working in Taiwan
Discussions
CHAPTER IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Results of Demographic Data Analysis
Descriptive Results
Factors Influencing International Students’ Choice of Working in Taiwan
Discussions
CHAPTER V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations
Contributions
Research Objectives and Themes
This study investigates the key factors influencing international students' intentions to pursue employment in Taiwan following their graduation. By analyzing personal characteristics, university-related experiences, and labor market conditions, the research aims to establish an integrated model that helps inform talent retention policies in the context of Taiwan's innovation-driven economy.
- Analysis of personal factors including career perceptions and cross-cultural adjustment.
- Evaluation of the impact of university experiences on career intentions.
- Assessment of Taiwan's labor market factors (opportunities, policy, salary) as pull factors for graduates.
- Investigation of mediating paths between student background and the decision to work in Taiwan.
- Development of strategic insights for retaining international talent to mitigate local workforce shortages.
Excerpt from the Book
Labour Market Factors
Choudaha and de Wit (2014) argued that stable national economies and fluid labor markets of countries like the UK, USA, and Australia are some of the crucial factors that lure international students to choose to work in these host countries after graduation. In the following extract, Mazzarol, Savery and Kemp (1996) provided a brief positive outlook of Taiwan’s national economy:
The economic performance of Taiwan in recent years has been impressive. Real GNP growth has averaged approximately 9% per annum since the 1970's. Its key exports have been electrical machinery, electronic products, and textiles, with trade focused largely on the United States, Hong Kong, the European Union and Japan. In 1989 Taiwan had a labor force of 7.9 million with male adult literacy levels of around 93% (p. 43).
The foregoing extract presents a positive image of Taiwan’s economy as well as the labor market. In line Choudaha and de Wit (2014) above mentioned argument it is predicted that Taiwan’s labor market has a positive influence on international students’ choice of working in Taiwan after graduation. Self-selection theory is one of the theories associated with the migration of international students and skilled migrants which was postulated by Borjas (1987). The main assumption behind this theory is that, individuals compare the incomes of their home country and that of the intended destination country, before making their decision to migrate and work in the destination country.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the motivation for the study, identified within the context of Taiwan's manpower challenges and the global competition for professional talent.
CHAPTER II. LITERATURE REVIEW: Reviews existing theories on migration and career choice, specifically focusing on personal, university, and labor market factors that influence international students.
CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY: Details the quantitative research design, encompassing the theoretical framework, data collection via self-reported surveys, and reliability measures.
CHAPTER IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: Presents the empirical findings and regression analyses based on data collected from 205 international students in Taiwan.
CHAPTER V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Synthesizes the research outcomes and suggests actionable strategies for the Taiwanese government and university administrators to improve graduate retention.
Keywords
Personal factors, university experiences, labor market factors, international students, choice of working in Taiwan, talent retention, global war for talent, career perception, cross-cultural adjustment, NHRD, quantitative research, structural equation modeling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary motivation for this research?
The study is motivated by the projected undersupply of professional workers in Taiwan and the resulting government need to understand how to retain international graduates as a strategic source of talent.
What are the core pillars of the research model?
The research is built on three main independent constructs: personal factors (like career perceptions and family ties), university experiences, and labor market factors.
What goal does the study aim to achieve?
The primary aim is to identify the factors influencing the decision to work in Taiwan after graduation and to build an integrated model that can support evidence-based policy making.
Which methodology was applied to analyze the data?
The study employed a quantitative research approach, utilizing surveys and SmartPLS3 for path analysis to statistically confirm the relationship between variables.
How is the significance of the labor market defined?
Labor market factors are defined by the perceived availability of job opportunities, favorable government policies (such as NHRD), salary levels, and the quality of the intellectual work environment.
What characterizes the study's key variables?
The key variables are defined through theoretical and operational terms, emphasizing individual career perceptions, institutional support, and cross-cultural adaptation.
How did Taiwan's NHRD action program impact the findings?
The study found that international students' awareness of the NHRD program is currently quite low (13%), which limits its immediate effectiveness in influencing their career choices.
What role does cross-cultural adjustment play?
Cross-cultural adjustment is identified as a critical personal factor that mediates the students' satisfaction with their studies and ultimately influences their inclination to stay in the host country.
How do family factors influence the final decision?
Family ties are shown to have a strong bond with the students; for many, support from family members is a significant motivational factor that correlates with their career and migration plans.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding agency contradictions?
The author concludes that conflicting mandates between agencies like TaiwanICDF and the NHRD action program serve as barriers that the government must harmonize to successfully retain international talent.
- Citation du texte
- Wandile Wiseman Mntshali (Auteur), 2016, The Factors Influencing International Students' Choice of Working in Taiwan after Graduation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1352203
