TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceived employability of international doctoral students in the UK
T2 - applying Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory
AU - Wang, Fa
AU - Huang, Rong
AU - Lim, Wai Mun
AU - Zhang, Jinhua
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2024/10/10
Y1 - 2024/10/10
N2 - The quality of the UK’s doctorate training system plays a fundamental role in fostering vibrant research outputs and attracting global talent. However, while maintaining a consistently high standard of quality remains static and challenging, little is known about how the employability of international doctorate students is shaped and at what juncture it is opportune to support their employability during their research studies. This paper aims to understand the employability of international doctoral students within business schools at British universities, drawing on Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as a framework. The qualitative study involves 15 international doctoral students from 9 business schools. The findings uncover various environmental systems impacting their employability. In addition, this study theoretically extends employability research by applying Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to provide a multi-layered understanding of international doctorate employability, offering a novel framework for targeted career support interventions. Further, the implications highlight the urgent need for tailored support to build industrial connections, promote departmental collaboration to scaffold a dynamic research environment, proffer multiple resource channels, and create employment opportunities both inside and outside of the university.
AB - The quality of the UK’s doctorate training system plays a fundamental role in fostering vibrant research outputs and attracting global talent. However, while maintaining a consistently high standard of quality remains static and challenging, little is known about how the employability of international doctorate students is shaped and at what juncture it is opportune to support their employability during their research studies. This paper aims to understand the employability of international doctoral students within business schools at British universities, drawing on Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory as a framework. The qualitative study involves 15 international doctoral students from 9 business schools. The findings uncover various environmental systems impacting their employability. In addition, this study theoretically extends employability research by applying Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to provide a multi-layered understanding of international doctorate employability, offering a novel framework for targeted career support interventions. Further, the implications highlight the urgent need for tailored support to build industrial connections, promote departmental collaboration to scaffold a dynamic research environment, proffer multiple resource channels, and create employment opportunities both inside and outside of the university.
KW - international doctorate student
KW - employability
KW - ecological systems theory
KW - UK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85206088138&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/context/pbs-research/article/1324/viewcontent/Perceived_employability_of_international_doctoral_students_in_the_UK_applying_Bronfenbrenner_s_ecological_systems_theory.pdf
U2 - 10.1080/03075079.2024.2412833
DO - 10.1080/03075079.2024.2412833
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85206088138
SN - 0307-5079
JO - Studies in Higher Education
JF - Studies in Higher Education
ER -