Asia-born New Zealand-educated business graduates' transition to work

Abstract

In 2008 the Asia New Zealand Foundation commissioned a three-year project examining Asia-born New Zealand-educated business graduates' study to work transitions. Data were collected through annual online surveys and in-depth interviews. Graduates were asked to discuss their post-study experiences, reflections on studying in New Zealand, and perceptions of their New Zealand business education. Participants included 171 (phase one), 76 (phase two) and 41 (phase three) students and recent graduates. All except one were based in New Zealand or the Asia region. In this paper we draw on “engaged pedagogy” and “functional capabilities” perspectives to consider phase two and three participants' accounts of their study to work transition pathways. Specifically, we examine two “functional capabilities” that participants discussed in relation to their post-study experiences: having economic opportunities and developing a sense of affiliation. We highlight some barriers to each “capability” that emerged in participants' accounts and consider how participants envisaged their role in fostering ongoing Asia-New Zealand connections. We conclude with some suggested implications for policy and practice in New Zealand and in internationalized HE more generally.

Keywords::

• business education
• Asia-born students
• New Zealand
• graduate transition
• engaged pedagogy
• functional capabilities

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the students and graduates who participated in our study and to the anonymous reviewers whose comments were helpful in reworking our initial version of this paper.

Notes

^1. International students are those who require a student visa to study. Full-fee paying international students pay course fees equal to, or above, the full cost of their New Zealand education while students with permanent resident (PR) or citizenship status are eligible for government-subsidized HE. International doctoral students and students with Australian citizenship pay “local student” fees.

^2. PR status allows a person to live and work in New Zealand indefinitely and enjoy the same access to social services as a New Zealand citizen. Eligibility for PR is determined on the basis of a “points” system (incorporating employment, education, age and other factors).

^3. In order to qualify for a work visa, former international students must receive an offer of employment that Immigration New Zealand deems to be relevant to their New Zealand qualification.

^4. All participants are identified using pseudonyms.