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International students and post study employment: the impact of university and host community engagement on the employment outcomes of international students in Australia

chapter
posted on 2017-01-01, 00:00 authored by C Gribble, Mark RahimiMark Rahimi, Jillian BlackmoreJillian Blackmore
Post-study employment for international students in Australia has emerged as a key issue facing the international education sector. For international graduates seeking to differentiate themselves in a highly competitive labour market, foreign work experience is now seen as a necessary part of the overseas study ‘package’. However, international students seeking to augment their international qualification with host country work experience face many challenges. Lack of formal work experience programmes, difficulties identifying placement opportunities, issues surrounding English language competency and ‘soft skills’, and limited local networks are some of the barriers to labour market entry for international students. Visa policy also presents significant challenges. However, many of the barriers international students face when attempting to transition into the Australian workplace stem from international students’ broader struggle to connect with the Australian society during their study experience. Drawing on a 3-year study of international graduates transitioning into the Australian labour market, this chapter examines how international student connectedness both on campus and in the local community is closely linked to the development of key ‘employability’ skills demanded in the Australian workplace.

History

Title of book

International student connectedness and identity: transnational perspectives

Volume

6

Series

Cultural studies and transdisciplinarity in education

Chapter number

2

Pagination

15 - 39

Publisher

Springer

Place of publication

Singapore

ISSN

2345-7708

eISSN

2345-7716

ISBN-13

9789811026010

ISBN-10

9811026017

Language

eng

Publication classification

B1 Book chapter

Copyright notice

2017, Springer

Extent

16

Editor/Contributor(s)

L Tran, C Gomez