The future plans and dilemmas of Chinese students studying in Hungary: A narrative analysis

Xueyan Li and Henriett Primecz ()
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Xueyan Li: Doctoral School of Sociology and Communication Science, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
Henriett Primecz: Institute of Management and Organization, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary

Society and Economy, 2021, vol. 43, issue 4, 374-390

Abstract: Studying in Hungary has become a new trend among Chinese students under the Belt and Road Initiative. The spectacular tripling of the growth of incoming Chinese students has influenced the number of international students in Hungary. In this paper, 26 in-depth narrative interviews with Chinese students in Hungary were conducted and analysed, employing the grounded theory method. This research reveals that beyond considerable uncertainty regarding future plans and career trajectories, three paths are open for Chinese students in Hungary. The largest group intends to return to China after graduation, although they have doubts concerning whether their acquired skills and knowledge can be utilised. The second group aims to find niche jobs, in which they can utilise their in-betweenness. Finally, a small proportion consciously builds their network and aims to remain in Hungary or Europe, engage in further studies or seek employment. The findings contribute to policymakers who support Chinese international educational mobility and to individual Chinese students that wish to widen their horizons and find alternative career paths.

Keywords: Chinese students; Hungary; educational mobility; career trajectories; narrative analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 I23 J26 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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