International human capital in the local labour market: experiences of the foreign-educated Kazakhstani graduates

ABSTRACT

Using mixed methods research approach, this study explores the employment experiences of the Kazakhstani graduates with international human capital in the domestic labour market. Human and social capital theories and Spence’s signalling theory are utilised to explain and consider how investment into and internationalisation of those capitals and signalling attributes contribute to the graduates’ after-return labour market participation scenarios. The findings indicate that international education significantly improves graduate employability and widens opportunities. However, the limited options and capacity of the local labour market as well as the attitudinal differences between the Soviet era senior administration and foreign-educated graduates represent serious challenges.

KEYWORDS:

• Study abroad
• Kazakhstani labour market
• employability
• foreign-educated graduates
• international human capital

Acknowledgments

My deepest gratitude goes to Dr Aisi Li and to Dr Jason Sparks.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fariza Tolesh

Dr Fariza Tolesh is an interdisciplinary scholar with a PhD in Education from Nazarbayev University. She is an Associate Professor at Astana IT University Department of Social Science.