Title: A contextual, theoretical and empirical analysis of the uses of university degrees as symbolic capital in self-initiated expatriation

Authors: Jason Ryan; Sari Silvanto; H. Erkan Ozkaya

Addresses: California State University, San Bernardino 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407-2318, USA ' Department of Management and Marketing, College of Business Administration and Public Policy, California State University, Dominguez Hills, 1000 E Victoria St, Carson, CA 90747, USA ' California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, 3801 West Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768, USA

Abstract: This paper explores how the internationalisation of universities is impacting the symbolic capital that self-initiated expatriates rely upon to find work abroad. It contributes to the body of knowledge on institutional factors that enable and constrain self-initiated expatriation. Following a review of the literature, the authors develop and examine four hypotheses related to (1) the degree of international orientation of universities, (2) the political and economic globalisation of the countries in which they are located and (3) their academic reputations. Three of the hypotheses are supported by the analysis; a fourth hypothesis is rejected but reveals that talented graduates from well-regarded universities in economically less globalised countries are in high demand from employers in economically more globalised countries. Location, academic reputation and the international orientation of a university are found to be important factors influencing how large international employers perceive and assess global universities as a source of employable talent.

Keywords: self-initiated expatriation; global mobility; symbolic capital; employability; higher education; university degrees; talent mobility; internationalisation; expatriates; expats; work abroad; institutional factors; international orientation; political globalisation; economic globalisation; location; academic reputation.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2015.071536

European Journal of International Management, 2015 Vol.9 No.5, pp.614 - 634

Received: 04 Mar 2014
Accepted: 04 Jul 2014

Published online: 31 Aug 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article