Title: Self-initiated expatriate faculty in the UAE: balancing the profession and financial rewards

Authors: Kevin Schoepp; Ingo Forstenlechner

Addresses: Zayed University, P.O. Box 144534, Khalifa City B, Abu Dhabi, UAE. ' Faculty of Business and Economics, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17555, Al Ain, UAE

Abstract: This study examines the importance of financial rewards on expatriation and its relationship to professional roles and behaviours amongst self-initiated expatriate faculty. Survey data obtained from 364 expatriate faculty in the UAE is analysed. Bluedorn's (1982) staying or leaving index (SLI), as a predictor for actual intention to leave, is contrasted with their motivations to stay or leave the host country. The findings show how respondents perceive salary as a key motivator to stay in the host country along with voice in decision making and contractual employment. While perceived low salary levels have a significant impact on the intention to leave we could not find evidence for salary having a direct influence on professional behaviours. Beyond re-affirming the importance of salary, only voice in decision making and contractual employment seem to be of serious consequence to expatriate academics in their decision to leave the host country. This demonstrates the complexity of the interplay between professional characteristics and financial rewards.

Keywords: expatriation; self-initiated expatriates; globalisation; higher education; professional behaviour; academia; UAE; United Arab Emirates; expats; financial rewards; salary levels; expatriate academics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2012.047081

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2012 Vol.8 No.4, pp.454 - 470

Published online: 14 Aug 2014 *

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