Migration attitudes of foreign students after graduation from Russian universities (the case of the South of Russia)
Research Article
How to Cite
Magranov A.S., Gavrilov P.S. Migration attitudes of foreign students after graduation from Russian universities (the case of the South of Russia). Humanities of the South of Russia. 2025. Vol. 14. No. 1. P. 34-56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18522/2227-8656.2025.1.2 (in Russ.).
Abstract
Objective of the study. To analyze the main attitudes of foreign students studying at Russian universities regarding the choice of further residence and employment after graduation.
The methodological basis of the research. The basis of this article is the data of an applied sociological study conducted in higher educational institutions of the Southern Federal District. The method is a questionnaire. The sample consisted of 1,095 international students representing 65 countries of the world.
The results of the study. Migration attitudes of young foreigners depending on the state they represent are considered. The areas of training whose representatives are most focused both on leaving the country and on integration into Russian society have been identified. Thus, representatives of the technical sciences show the greatest interest in establishing life in Russia, and mostly young people studying natural and medical sciences seek to leave. The main motives determining the desire of foreign students to stay and work in Russia are determined. Also, the influence of the social environment on the formation of migration attitudes is analyzed. According to the analysis, one of the factors influencing the desire to stay in Russia is the presence of strong friendships, as well as the creation of their own family.
Prospects of the study. Results of the study can be used in the development of measures of state youth policy, as well as in the process of educational work with foreign students in universities.
Keywords:
educational migration, labor market, foreign students, university, adaptation, migration attitudes, integration
References
Antonova N. L., Sushchenko A. D., Popova N. G. "Soft Power" of Higher Education as a Factor of World Leadership. Obrazovaniye i nauka = Education and Science. 2020; 22 (1): 31-58. DOI 10.17853/1994-5639-2020-1-31-58 (In Russ.).
Bagirowa I. Kh. Integration Processes in the System of Higher Professional Education in the CIS. Vestnik Rossiyskogo universiteta druzhby narodov. Seriya: Ekonomika = Bulletin of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. Series: Economics. 2014; 4: 135-144 (In Russ.).
Bakumenko O. A. Employment of foreign students – an attribute of positioning in the international market of educational services. Akkreditatsiya v obrazovanii = Accreditation in education. 2018; 7 (107): 12-19 (In Russ.).
Vorobyova O. D., Grebenyuk A. A., Lebedeva T. V. Educational migration to the Russian Federation: regional differentiation and contribution to the socio-economic development of regions. Regional'naya ekonomika i upravleniye: elektronnyy nauchnyy zhurnal = Regional Economics and Management: electronic scientific journal. 2021; 1 (65): 6 (In Russ.).
Gabdrakhmanova G. F., Sagdieva E. A., Korableva N. I. Students from Central Asian countries in Tatarstan: motivation, adaptation, life plans. Sotsiologicheskiye issledovaniya = Sociological research. 2017; 3 (395): 58-63 (In. Russ.).
Zangieva I. K., Suleymanova A. N. Students from the CIS countries in Russia: prerequisites for migration. Monitoring obshchestvennogo mneniya: ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny = Monitoring public opinion: economic and social changes. 2016; 5 (135): 126-145. DOI 10.14515/monitoring.2016.5.09 (In Russ.).
Kartashevich E. V., Chikarova G. I., Gavrilov P. S. Foreign students and the host community of the university: features of perception and interaction practices. Vestnik Yuzhno-Rossiyskogo gosudarstvennogo tekhnicheskogo universiteta (NPI). Seriya: Sotsial'no-ekonomicheskiye nauki = Bulletin of the South-Russian State Technical University (NPI). Series: Social and Economic Sciences. 2021; 14(6): 71-78. DOI 10.17213/2075-2067-2021-6-71-78 (In Russ.).
Latova N. V. Migration attitudes and preferences of Russian specialists in the context of the concept of human capital. Monitoring obshchestvennogo mneniya: ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny = Monitoring public opinion: economic and social changes. 2021; 4 (164): 429-450. DOI 10.14515/monitoring.2021.4.1692 (In Russ.).
Matveeva A. A. Educational strategy of the university in relation to migrant students. Gumanitarnyy nauchnyy vestnik = Humanitarian Scientific Bulletin. 2021; 6: 68-73. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.5084497 (In Russ.).
Makhmutova E. V. Features of the integration of foreign students into the Russian educational space. Vlast' = Power. 2020; 28(1): 77-84. DOI 10.31171/vlast.v28i1.7045 (In Russ.).
Modnov S. I., Ukhova L. V. Problems of adaptation of foreign students studying at a technical university. Yaroslavskiy pedagogicheskiy vestnik = Yaroslavl pedagogical bulletin. 2013; 1(2): 111-115 (In Russ.).
Morozova Yu. V. On the issue of adaptation of foreign students in a multinational university: regional aspects. Azimut nauchnykh issledovaniy: pedagogika i psikhologiya = Azimuth of scientific research: pedagogy and psychology. 2018; 7. 1 (22): 129-132 (In Russ.).
Pismennaya E. E. Social consequences of educational immigration to Russia: issues of theory and research methods: specialty 22.00.03 "Economic sociology and demography": abstract of a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Sociological Sciences. Moscow, 2009; 64 p. (In Russ.).
Romero A. N. Features of social adaptation of foreign students in the southern part of Russia as a reflection of the social problems of this region. Vestnik Volgogradskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya 7: Filosofiya. Sotsiologiya i sotsial'nyye tekhnologii = Bulletin of Volgograd State University. Series 7: Philosophy. Sociology and social technologies. 2008; 2 (8): 240-242 (In Russ.).
Rocheva A. L., Varshaver E. A. Migration intentions of young people with and without migration background: the Russian case. Monitoring obshchestvennogo mneniya: ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny = Monitoring public opinion: economic and social changes. 2020; 3 (157): 295-334. DOI 10.14515 / monitoring.2020.3.1632 (In Russ.).
Ryazantsev S. V., Pismennaya E. E. Emigration of scientists from Russia: "circulation" or "brain drain". Sotsiologicheskiye issledovaniya = Sociological studies. 2013; 4 (348): 24-35 (In Russ.).
Skorobogatova V. I. Educating Foreigners in Russia: From “Soft Power” to Education Export. Obrazovaniye i pravo = Education and Law. 2020; 5: 165-173. DOI 10.24411/2076-1503-2020-10529 (In Russ.).
Sobkin V. S., Smyslova M. M., Kolomiets Yu. O. Migration Attitudes of Postgraduate Students: On the Issue of the “Brain Drain”. Psikhologo-pedagogicheskiye issledovaniya = Psychological and Pedagogical Research. 2020; 12(3): 61-79. DOI 10.17759/psyedu.2020120304 (In Russ.).
Suvorova V. A., Bronnikov I. A. International educational migration as a "soft power resource" in the era of globalization. Upravleniye = Management. 2019; 7 (4): 131-139. DOI 10.26425/2309-3633-2019-4-131-139 (In Russ.).
Titova O. I. Psychological support of foreign students and its role in ensuring the quality of education in a multicultural environment. Sibirskiy vestnik spetsial'nogo obrazovaniya = Siberian Bulletin of Special Education. 2015; 1 (14): 98-102 (In Russ.).
Khoroshikh V. V., Logacheva E. A. Career plans of foreign students studying in Russia. Gertsenovskiye chteniya: psikhologicheskiye issledovaniya v obrazovanii = Herzen Readings: Psychological Research in Education. 2021; 4: 241-250. DOI 10.33910/herzenpsyconf-2021-4-29 (In Russ.).
Erturk S., Oker K., Luu L. A. Nguyen «I Am Not an Immigrant. I Am an International Student»: A Qualitative Study of Adaptation Experiences of Turkish International Students in Germany. Journal of International Students. 2021; 12 (3): 716-735. DOI: 10.32674/jis.v12i3.3776.
Hazen H. D., Alberts H. C. Visitors or Immigrants? International Students in the United States. Population, Space and Place. 2006; 12 (3): 201-216. DOI: 10.1002/psp.409.
Netierman E., Harrison L., Freeman A., Shoyele G., Esses V., Covell C. Should I Stay or Should I Go? International Students’ Decision-Making about Staying in Canada. Journal of International Migration and Integration. 2022; 23: 43-60. DOI: 10.1007/s12134-021-00825-1.
Penman J., Malik G., Chu E., Kett G., Hampton K., Thomacos N., Ebrahimi-Zanjani M., Zhong Y., McKenzie W. Empowering International Students to Succeed: An Innovative and Beneficial Initiative for Health Professions. Journal of International Students. 2021; 11 (4): 832-852. DOI: 10.32674/jis.v11i4.2226.
Wiers-Jenssen J. What Brings International Students to Norway? Journal of International Students. 2020; 10(1): IX-XII. DOI: 10.32674/jis.v10i1.1888.
Wu C., Wilkes R. International Students’ Post-Graduation Migration Plans and the Search for Home. Geoforum. 2017; 80: 123-132.
Zhan M., Downey C., Dyke M. International Postgraduate Students’ Labour Mobility in the United Kingdom: A Cross-Classified Multilevel Analysis. Population, Space and Place. 2021; 27 (1). Art. e2381. DOI: 10.1002/psp.2381.
Bagirowa I. Kh. Integration Processes in the System of Higher Professional Education in the CIS. Vestnik Rossiyskogo universiteta druzhby narodov. Seriya: Ekonomika = Bulletin of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. Series: Economics. 2014; 4: 135-144 (In Russ.).
Bakumenko O. A. Employment of foreign students – an attribute of positioning in the international market of educational services. Akkreditatsiya v obrazovanii = Accreditation in education. 2018; 7 (107): 12-19 (In Russ.).
Vorobyova O. D., Grebenyuk A. A., Lebedeva T. V. Educational migration to the Russian Federation: regional differentiation and contribution to the socio-economic development of regions. Regional'naya ekonomika i upravleniye: elektronnyy nauchnyy zhurnal = Regional Economics and Management: electronic scientific journal. 2021; 1 (65): 6 (In Russ.).
Gabdrakhmanova G. F., Sagdieva E. A., Korableva N. I. Students from Central Asian countries in Tatarstan: motivation, adaptation, life plans. Sotsiologicheskiye issledovaniya = Sociological research. 2017; 3 (395): 58-63 (In. Russ.).
Zangieva I. K., Suleymanova A. N. Students from the CIS countries in Russia: prerequisites for migration. Monitoring obshchestvennogo mneniya: ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny = Monitoring public opinion: economic and social changes. 2016; 5 (135): 126-145. DOI 10.14515/monitoring.2016.5.09 (In Russ.).
Kartashevich E. V., Chikarova G. I., Gavrilov P. S. Foreign students and the host community of the university: features of perception and interaction practices. Vestnik Yuzhno-Rossiyskogo gosudarstvennogo tekhnicheskogo universiteta (NPI). Seriya: Sotsial'no-ekonomicheskiye nauki = Bulletin of the South-Russian State Technical University (NPI). Series: Social and Economic Sciences. 2021; 14(6): 71-78. DOI 10.17213/2075-2067-2021-6-71-78 (In Russ.).
Latova N. V. Migration attitudes and preferences of Russian specialists in the context of the concept of human capital. Monitoring obshchestvennogo mneniya: ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny = Monitoring public opinion: economic and social changes. 2021; 4 (164): 429-450. DOI 10.14515/monitoring.2021.4.1692 (In Russ.).
Matveeva A. A. Educational strategy of the university in relation to migrant students. Gumanitarnyy nauchnyy vestnik = Humanitarian Scientific Bulletin. 2021; 6: 68-73. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.5084497 (In Russ.).
Makhmutova E. V. Features of the integration of foreign students into the Russian educational space. Vlast' = Power. 2020; 28(1): 77-84. DOI 10.31171/vlast.v28i1.7045 (In Russ.).
Modnov S. I., Ukhova L. V. Problems of adaptation of foreign students studying at a technical university. Yaroslavskiy pedagogicheskiy vestnik = Yaroslavl pedagogical bulletin. 2013; 1(2): 111-115 (In Russ.).
Morozova Yu. V. On the issue of adaptation of foreign students in a multinational university: regional aspects. Azimut nauchnykh issledovaniy: pedagogika i psikhologiya = Azimuth of scientific research: pedagogy and psychology. 2018; 7. 1 (22): 129-132 (In Russ.).
Pismennaya E. E. Social consequences of educational immigration to Russia: issues of theory and research methods: specialty 22.00.03 "Economic sociology and demography": abstract of a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Sociological Sciences. Moscow, 2009; 64 p. (In Russ.).
Romero A. N. Features of social adaptation of foreign students in the southern part of Russia as a reflection of the social problems of this region. Vestnik Volgogradskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya 7: Filosofiya. Sotsiologiya i sotsial'nyye tekhnologii = Bulletin of Volgograd State University. Series 7: Philosophy. Sociology and social technologies. 2008; 2 (8): 240-242 (In Russ.).
Rocheva A. L., Varshaver E. A. Migration intentions of young people with and without migration background: the Russian case. Monitoring obshchestvennogo mneniya: ekonomicheskiye i sotsial'nyye peremeny = Monitoring public opinion: economic and social changes. 2020; 3 (157): 295-334. DOI 10.14515 / monitoring.2020.3.1632 (In Russ.).
Ryazantsev S. V., Pismennaya E. E. Emigration of scientists from Russia: "circulation" or "brain drain". Sotsiologicheskiye issledovaniya = Sociological studies. 2013; 4 (348): 24-35 (In Russ.).
Skorobogatova V. I. Educating Foreigners in Russia: From “Soft Power” to Education Export. Obrazovaniye i pravo = Education and Law. 2020; 5: 165-173. DOI 10.24411/2076-1503-2020-10529 (In Russ.).
Sobkin V. S., Smyslova M. M., Kolomiets Yu. O. Migration Attitudes of Postgraduate Students: On the Issue of the “Brain Drain”. Psikhologo-pedagogicheskiye issledovaniya = Psychological and Pedagogical Research. 2020; 12(3): 61-79. DOI 10.17759/psyedu.2020120304 (In Russ.).
Suvorova V. A., Bronnikov I. A. International educational migration as a "soft power resource" in the era of globalization. Upravleniye = Management. 2019; 7 (4): 131-139. DOI 10.26425/2309-3633-2019-4-131-139 (In Russ.).
Titova O. I. Psychological support of foreign students and its role in ensuring the quality of education in a multicultural environment. Sibirskiy vestnik spetsial'nogo obrazovaniya = Siberian Bulletin of Special Education. 2015; 1 (14): 98-102 (In Russ.).
Khoroshikh V. V., Logacheva E. A. Career plans of foreign students studying in Russia. Gertsenovskiye chteniya: psikhologicheskiye issledovaniya v obrazovanii = Herzen Readings: Psychological Research in Education. 2021; 4: 241-250. DOI 10.33910/herzenpsyconf-2021-4-29 (In Russ.).
Erturk S., Oker K., Luu L. A. Nguyen «I Am Not an Immigrant. I Am an International Student»: A Qualitative Study of Adaptation Experiences of Turkish International Students in Germany. Journal of International Students. 2021; 12 (3): 716-735. DOI: 10.32674/jis.v12i3.3776.
Hazen H. D., Alberts H. C. Visitors or Immigrants? International Students in the United States. Population, Space and Place. 2006; 12 (3): 201-216. DOI: 10.1002/psp.409.
Netierman E., Harrison L., Freeman A., Shoyele G., Esses V., Covell C. Should I Stay or Should I Go? International Students’ Decision-Making about Staying in Canada. Journal of International Migration and Integration. 2022; 23: 43-60. DOI: 10.1007/s12134-021-00825-1.
Penman J., Malik G., Chu E., Kett G., Hampton K., Thomacos N., Ebrahimi-Zanjani M., Zhong Y., McKenzie W. Empowering International Students to Succeed: An Innovative and Beneficial Initiative for Health Professions. Journal of International Students. 2021; 11 (4): 832-852. DOI: 10.32674/jis.v11i4.2226.
Wiers-Jenssen J. What Brings International Students to Norway? Journal of International Students. 2020; 10(1): IX-XII. DOI: 10.32674/jis.v10i1.1888.
Wu C., Wilkes R. International Students’ Post-Graduation Migration Plans and the Search for Home. Geoforum. 2017; 80: 123-132.
Zhan M., Downey C., Dyke M. International Postgraduate Students’ Labour Mobility in the United Kingdom: A Cross-Classified Multilevel Analysis. Population, Space and Place. 2021; 27 (1). Art. e2381. DOI: 10.1002/psp.2381.
Article
Received: 23.12.2024
Accepted: 24.02.2025
Citation Formats
Other cite formats:
APA
Magranov, A. S., & Gavrilov, P. S. (2025). Migration attitudes of foreign students after graduation from Russian universities (the case of the South of Russia). Humanities of the South of Russia, 14(1), 34-56. https://doi.org/10.18522/2227-8656.2025.1.2
Section
SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN MODERN SOCIETY
