Cultural cultivation for the mobility of Bangladeshi higher education students in Australia

ABSTRACT

In the global education market, Australian universities have had their position confirmed as a crucial emerging destination for international students, especially among young Bangladeshi people. This article seeks to investigate the cultural factors for young Bangladeshis to become physically mobile in order to seek higher education in Australian universities. Following a qualitative methodology, this article explores purposively selected 18 young Bangladeshi students’ stories behind being physically mobile in pursuing higher education in two Australian universities. Drawing upon the theorisation of Bauman and Appadurai, it claims that not only is it the insecurity and uncertainty existing in Bangladesh, but the consumerist culture of neoliberalism in both home and the host country that motivates students to go abroad pursuing higher education. The findings of this article aim to inform researchers and policymakers in both developed and developing countries about the politics and power related to mobilities by articulating a critical analysis on present practices in globalised cultures and institutions.

KEYWORDS:

• Globalisation
• mobility
• young people
• culture
• higher education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).