Retention of Well-educated International Students in the North Denmark Region: An Exploratory Case Study of how STAY can Change and Improve the Regional Effort in a Change Management and Migration Perspective
Authors
Walther, Mathias Søndergård ; Larsen, Julie Mølgaard
Term
4. term
Publication year
2015
Submitted on
2015-06-29
Pages
135
Abstract
Denne specialeundersøgelse tager udgangspunkt i et socialkonstruktivistisk perspektiv og undersøger, hvordan den regionale indsats kan ændres og forbedres for at fastholde flere højtuddannede internationale studerende i Nordjylland efter endt uddannelse. Med udgangspunkt i, at regionen aktuelt klarer sig dårligst i Danmark på dette område, gennemføres et eksplorativt casestudie af partnerskabsinitiativet STAY, der samler Aalborg Kommune, erhvervsliv, Aalborg Universitet og UCN. Metodisk kombineres 9 semistrukturerede interviews med repræsentanter fra STAY, en kvantitativ spørgeskemaundersøgelse blandt internationale studerende og en opfølgende fokusgruppe med fire studerende. Teoretisk anvendes forandringsledelse til at vurdere og foreslå organisatoriske forbedringer samt migrationsteori til at forstå studerendes udfordringer. Resultaterne peger på interne udfordringer i STAY vedrørende samarbejde og ressourcer, interessenthåndtering og manglende vision, mens internationale studerende fremhæver stigmatisering, netværk og sprog som centrale barrierer for integration og adgang til arbejdsmarkedet. På den baggrund anbefales bl.a., at kun aktører med mandat indgår i STAY, at indsatsen forankres i relevante jobprofiler, at der tilføres flere ressourcer, ansættes en fuldtids projektleder med ledelseserfaring, opstilles og kommunikeres klare mål, samt at både region og erhvervsorganisationer engageres omkring en enkel, fælles vision. Et International House i Aalborg vurderes ikke som en langsigtet løsning; i stedet foreslås konkrete tiltag som bedre forberedelse før ankomst, en trin-for-trin-velkomstguide, synlige succeshistorier, tidlig og udvidet danskundervisning (inkl. online før ankomst), mere internationaliserede studiemiljøer, anerkendelse af internationale studerende og indsatser, der gør regionens yderområder attraktive.
This master’s thesis adopts a social constructivist perspective to examine how the regional effort can be changed and improved to retain more well-educated international students in the North Denmark Region after graduation. Addressing the fact that the region currently performs worst in Denmark on this measure, the study conducts an exploratory case study of the STAY partnership, which brings together Aalborg Municipality, the local business community, Aalborg University, and UCN. The mixed-methods design combines nine semi-structured interviews with STAY stakeholders, a quantitative survey of international students, and a follow-up focus group with four students. Change management theory is used to assess and propose organizational improvements, while migration theory helps explain students’ challenges. Findings indicate internal issues within STAY related to cooperation and resources, stakeholder management, and lack of vision; international students highlight stigmatization, networks, and language as key barriers to integration and access to the labor market. Recommendations include involving only stakeholders with mandate and authority, embedding STAY tasks in relevant job descriptions, allocating more human and financial resources, appointing a full-time project manager with leadership experience, defining and communicating clear goals, engaging the regional authority and major business organizations, and establishing a simple, shared vision. Establishing an International House in Aalborg is not seen as a long-term solution; instead, proposed actions include better pre-arrival preparation, a step-by-step welcome guide, promoting success stories, earlier and expanded Danish language learning (including online before arrival), more internationalized study environments, greater recognition of internationals, and measures to make peripheral areas attractive across the region.
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