ABSTRACT
Pre-pandemic, the international education marketplace was expanding rapidly along with cross-border educational mobilities. Researchers have explored the adaptions of international students to study destinations, notably within an acculturation framework. However, researchers have given less attention to adapting to life in the country of origin that international students encounter as returnees. It is commonplace for returning graduates to transition from higher education to employment. Despite such challenges, few studies have investigated how international students reintegrate into the job markets of their home countries. In this paper, we discuss the current state of relevant research on acculturation and reacculturation and provide a foundation for future research. Finally, theoretical and practical contributions in the field of counselling and guidance are provided.
Data Availability Statement
Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analysed in this study.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Katrine Sonnenschein
Katrine Sonnenschein is an Associate Professor in the Department of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour, BI Norwegian Business School, Norway. Her main research interests are professional socialisation, international education, career, work integrated learning, and tourism and hospitality education.
Cristina Michelini
Cristina Michelini holds a PhD in Tourism Management from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Cristina’s main research interests are international higher education, student tourism, educational tourism and acculturation.
Brian King
Brian King is Professor and Associate Dean in the School of Hotel & Tourism at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. He teaches and researches on cultural tourism in Asia and on hospitality leadership. He is Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Tourism, Culture & Communication.