A new study published in the International Journal of Educational Research has found that foreign-educated graduates reduce extreme poverty in low- and middle-income countries.
Researchers from the University of Oxford examined how international higher education influences poverty reduction in students’ home countries. The study looks at how skills, knowledge and connections gained abroad lead to change through things such as new practices and innovations in governance, education and economic development.
‘Returnees use the skills and knowledge they gain abroad to drive local innovations and contribute to societal changes,’ said Associate Professor of Comparative and International Education, Maia Chankseliani. ‘[This] can lead to systemic poverty reduction over time.’
There has been a dramatic increase in international student mobility since 1997, tripling from two million to six million in 2021. However, recent hostility towards students in some countries may threaten to reduce the benefits of international education on poverty.
‘We hope this paper will encourage policymakers to recognise the important role international education plays in development,’ Prof. Chankseliani continued.
The research, which took place over 18 months, aimed to identify trends in the relationship between outbound student mobility and poverty reduction using data from 210 countries between 1999 and 2018. Though the immediate impact of student mobility on poverty is not significant, there is a measurable long-term effect over a 15-year period.
Researchers highlight, however, that accessibility to high-quality education abroad is a major barrier to achieving poverty reduction.
‘Since self-funded study abroad is largely restricted to students from affluent backgrounds, increasing targeted scholarships can help provide more opportunities for those from low-income countries,’ said Postdoctoral Researcher, Joonghyun Kwak. ‘By increasing access to international education and enhancing local educational systems, we can make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of these countries.’
