Migracija į Lietuvą studijų tikslais ir tarptautinių studentų identiteto raiška integracijos ir atskirties perspektyvoje

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Collection:
Mokslo publikacijos / Scientific publications
Document Type:
Straipsnis / Article
Language:
Lietuvių kalba / Lithuanian
Title:
Migracija į Lietuvą studijų tikslais ir tarptautinių studentų identiteto raiška integracijos ir atskirties perspektyvoje
Alternative Title:
Migration to Lithuania for studies, and the expression of the identity of internationalsStudent from the perspective of integration and exclusion
Authors:
Kazlauskaitė, Ilona
In the Journal:
Lietuvos etnologija. 2021, 21 (30), p. 149-172
Keywords:
LT
Aukštasis mokslas. Studijos / Higher education. Study; Integracija / Integration; Migracija / Migration; Studentai / Students; Kultūrinis identitetas / Cultural identitity.
Summary / Abstract:

LTMigracija studijų tikslais visame pasaulyje sparčiai auga ir tampa išskirtiniu šiuolaikinio aukštojo mokslo bruožu. Iššūkiai, su kuriais susiduria tarptautiniai studentai, tokie kaip kalbos ir kultūriniai skirtumai, teisiniai ir socialiniai suvaržymai, priklausymo ir susisaistymo ryšių neapibrėžtumas, pažeidžiamumas, „kitoniškumo“ jausmas, yra reikšmingi veiksniai apibrėžiant tarptautinių studentų identiteto pokyčius. Atlikto tyrimo rezultatai rodo, kad tarptautiniai studentai vertina savo identiteto pokyčius studijų Lietuvoje metu kaip galimybę kurti naują hibridinę „tarptautinio studento“ tapatybę ir tinklus pagal savo vertybes ir patirtį naujoje aplinkoje. Raktiniai žodžiai: migracija studijų tikslais, tarptautiniai studentai, identitetas, integracija, atskirtis. [Iš leidinio]

ENMigration for studies is a rapidly growing trend around the world, and is becoming a characteristic trait of contemporary higher education. The number of international students studying and pursuing a higher education degree outside their country of origin has risen sharply in recent decades: from 800,000 students in the 1970s, to more than 5.5 million in 2017 (OECD 2019). The number of international students in Lithuania has increased by 5.5 times over the last decade: from 1,300 students in 2010, to 7,600 in 2020 (Mokslas ir studijos... 2020). Lithuania’s education and migration policy is dominated by dualism: the desire to become as visible as possible in the region and in the world, participating in the competition to attract ‘talent’ and highly qualified specialists; but at the same time, there are questions regarding the quality of higher education and national security related to these aspirations. In research focusing on Lithuanian migration patterns, foreign students, as a particular group of migrants, have not yet been extensively researched. This article presents an analysis of the results of a study based on 17 semistructured interviews conducted in Lithuania during the 2020–2021 academic year. International students studying full time, and graduates from Lithuanian higher education institutions from non-EU countries, were selected for the interviews. The aim of this study is to determine: firstly, how students conceptualise their international migration experience during their studies in Lithuania; and secondly, what factors affect the status of international students, their exclusion and vulnerability, and how that, in its turn, influences the formation and change of their identity.The results of the empirical study show that international students create complex and hybridised identities: an ‘international student’ in Lithuania, a ‘mediator between Lithuania and the country of origin’ (transmigrant), a strengthened ethnic identity, or, conversely, a global citizen. Belonging to a group of international students is explained by them not only through a sense of association with the group on the basis of ethnic, linguistic or social status, or migration in general, but also by highlighting differences with local or short-term exchange students. The identity of the international student is defined by the study participants as both collective (through the perception of commonality with other international students), and individual (the sense of ‘otherness’). The main challenges faced by international students in Lithuania are similar to those in other countries, and common to other migrant groups in general: language barriers and cultural differences, establishing and maintaining new social connections, emotional experiences and stress, the uncertainty of belonging, the feeling of ‘otherness’, and, in some cases, discrimination. The challenges and difficulties faced by students coming to study in Lithuania are double, as students are bound by additional obligations (family, country of origin and host country) or restrictions (legal, social), and the purpose for which they came, to acquire a higher education degree, as well as the responsibility and loyalty to their country of origin and to Lithuania, the host country. A knowledge of Lithuania’s culture, heritage and local language has a positive impact on their level of ‘attachment’ to the host country, and the openness of the academic community has a positive impact on their sense of ‘belonging to a university’.On the contrary, poor language skills, a lack of understanding of the local culture, negative local attitudes and indifference increase the exclusion and emotional and social vulnerability of international students, increase self-segregation and ‘enclosure’ within their ethnic or exclusively international community, and reduce opportunities for integrating into the university community and society in general. Not only institutional assistance within the university, but also a change in public attitudes (the media can play a significant role here) and the formation of a common state policy to attract international students to Lithuania are important for reducing the exclusion of foreign students. Key words: migration for studies, international students, identity, integration, and exclusion. [From the publication]

DOI:
10.33918/25386522-2130006
ISSN:
1392-4028
Subject:
Sociologija / Sociology
Related Publications:
Permalink:
https://www.lituanistika.lt/content/99029
Updated:
2022-11-29 19:22:59
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