International Student Mobility in Asia

• Main Authors: Ong, Mei Ren, Low, Grace Zhen Li, Azmi Nur Sabrina
• Other Authors: Tang Yang
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Humanities; DRNTU::Social sciences
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/70049
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In recent years, Asia has witnessed a growth in International Student Mobility (ISM). This was largely fuelled by the growing demographic of students, especially from emerging economies in Asia. This paper aims to investigate the factors that motivate ISM within Asia and the implications of ISM within the region. In order to provide a well-rounded analysis on this issue, a regression, mathematical and numerical analysis has been done. STATA, a data analysis and statistical software, as well as MATLAB, a programming language have been utilized to generate the results. Regression analysis has suggested that the ratio of per capita Gross Domestic Product of destination and home country; the average tuition fees of destination country; and the income per capita of home country, are significant determinants that affect ISM within Asia. Going a step further, the mathematical analysis has found that the expected payoff to an individual studying abroad in a destination country increases at a constant rate with the probability of getting a job in the destination country; increases at a decreasing rate with the wage of destination country; decreases at a constant rate with the probability of getting laid off after a period of work abroad; and decreases at an increasing rate with the cost of tuition of destination country. Finally, results from the numerical analysis have found that Prospect Theory, that is - people make decisions based on the potential value of losses and gains rather than the final outcome, where losses loom larger than gains, applies significantly to our results. This paper will be able to provide governments in Asia a greater look into ISM in order to improve on existing policies which promote ISM within the Asian region.