2020 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Attracting Highly Skilled Migration: Policy, Practice and Integration
Project/Area Number |
17K04719
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Research Institution | Ritsumeikan University |
Principal Investigator |
HICKS KimAnne 立命館大学, 政策科学部, 教授 (50526051)
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Project Period (FY) |
2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
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Keywords | highly skilled migration / international students / integration / retention rate / labour market / national policy |
Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
This multi-country investigation analyzed distinct national strategies and approaches for managing highly skilled migration via international student mobility looking at Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the US. The research determined effective policy attributes that target and influence recruitment for study leading to retention for host country employment. Positive influencing policy factors included flexible immigration options, cultural and social integration, family ties and labour market opportunities. Recruitment of international students continues to be part of broad national strategies to manage and ‘custom design’ highly skilled migrants. However, policies at the government level are often not implemented at the institutional or employment level. Industry, while often aware of benefits of diverse employees, continue to lag behind their expanding and demanding needs. Destination countries with more robust multicultural policies tend to be more successful in retention. The findings are significant in adding to the understanding of the barriers to retention, especially for non-typical and traditionally difficult countries for foreign workers. The main barriers identified in non-English speaking countries is language skills and social and professional networks.
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