Social networks, cultural capital and attachment to the host city: Comparing overseas Chinese students and foreign students in Taipei

Abstract

A central theme in the literature on transnational migration is the embeddedness of such movement in social networks and the utilisation of social capital in facilitating mobility. This case study on overseas Chinese students and mainly non-Chinese foreign students studying at a top university in Taipei brings in the notions of cultural capital and city. It investigates the ways social networks shape the destination choices of these two groups of students, and how their patterns of adjustment in the host milieu and attachment to the host city are affected by the transnational migration network (and the lack of it), embodied cultural capital and different host imaginaries constructed by the Taiwan government. The results show that these two groups of international students differed in their reliance on transnational migration networks in making destination choices prior to migration. Furthermore, the different forms of social networks and the differential social and cultural capital embedded in their respective groups, along with the distinctive host images that were constructed by the Taiwan government to cater for these two groups, shaped their overseas experiences and attachment to the city of Taipei in distinctive ways.

Study abroad tales: Experiences of international students in Taiwan

“…Recent study abroad studies have pointed out various differences that exist between students of different nationalities such as the Chinese and non-Chinese students' social capital (Ma, 2014), for English and non-English speaking students' interactions (Jon, Lee, & Byun, 2014), and for Asian and non-Asian students' learning patterns (Marambe, Vermunt, & Boshuizen, 2012;Yen & Stevens, 2004). This is also true with study abroad students within the short-term and degree seeking programs, which means that the duration of study abroad program matters (Alexejun & D'Angelo, 2013;J.…”

Identifying Support Opportunities for Foreign Students: Disentangling Language and Non-language Problems Among a Unique Population

“…Strong relationships with host-nationals are associated with reduced loneliness [15] and better adaptation and longer-term integration [2,8,[16][17][18]. This finding is relatively consistent for students in Western countries (America, Britain, Germany, Australia) and in China [8], Taiwan [19] and Japan [10,20,21]. Strong relationships, regardless of source, have been found to have a positive effect early in sojourners' adaptation, but too much contact with co-nationals can hinder long-term adjustment to the host country [22].…”

“…Much research in this area describes non-English students studying in countries where English is the dominant language inside and outside of school [e.g. 10,12,19]. Students in those studies tend to use two languages: the host-country language (usually English) for most activities and their native language for communicating with co-nationals and with people back home.…”

Uneven professional paths: A study on highly qualified Chinese and Indian migrants in Germany

“…In other studies, social ties to relatives, friends or colleagues who are either returned or current migrants figured in the migration decision-making processes of international students. Migrant networks have been identified as an important consideration in the decision of migrants about where to study (Ma, 2014) or to accept a job offer (Meier, 2015b). Other researchers have found that a web of contacts can help migrants decide what to study (Pimpa, 2004), how to overcome bureaucratic barriers to find employment, or make local contacts (Favell, 2008).…”

“…The role of social capital in this type of migration is explored. Social capital is frequently discussed as an asset which helps to reduce migration costs and risks, and as a factor that informs decisions to move to certain destinations, or to enroll in certain university programs or as contributing to integration in the host society (Beech, 2019; Meier, 2015a; Mulholland and Ryan, 2014; Ma, 2014). However, some scholars have highlighted diverse dynamics in destination countries that can affect the accumulation and use of valuable resources in competing for social positions in diverse fields, leading to adverse professional outcomes among migrants (Aksakal and Schmidt, 2019a; Thondhlana et al., 2016).…”