1st Edition
The Motivation and Research Experiences of International Doctoral Students in China Navigating the PhD Journey
This book explores the world of international doctoral students in the Chinese higher education system. It delves into their motivations, research experiences, and how they navigate the transitions across borders between their research, personal, and social worlds while pursuing their research in China.
The stories, presented in both patterned categories and individual reflexive narratives, illustrate how these students navigate themselves as doctoral researchers in the Chinese context. The stories highlight the opportunities and challenges these international students encounter in their doctoral research in China. While some students progressively become competent, confident, and positive researchers as they smoothly adjust, others struggle with difficult transitions and face challenges in their relationships with Chinese supervisors, peers, and the academic field. Through analyzing international doctoral students' lived experiences and the relevant policies, the authors offer insight into China's position and characteristics in the context of global doctoral education.
This book will be of special interest to academics, researchers, student counsellors, university administrators, and policymakers, both in the east and the west. It should also be of interest to international students who are currently pursuing or planning to commence doctoral studies in China.
1. Introduction 2. International Students in China 3. Motivation to pursue a doctoral degree in China 4. Navigating between different communities of research group 5. International doctoral students’ navigating trajectories in China 6. Critical Reflection 7. Conclusion
Biography
Dr. Dai Kun is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Educational Administration and Policy, Faculty of Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Dr Dai's research interests include international and comparative education, transnational higher education, and international student mobility.
Dr. Kenichi Doi is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics (IOG), the International House of Japan (I-House). He also serves as an adjunct researcher at the Center for the Study of International Cooperation in Education at Waseda University, Japan.
Dr. Oluwasegun Adesola Oladipo received his Ph.D. degree in Higher Education from Peking University. His research focuses on higher education internationalisation, especially transnational education, policy and regulatory frameworks, and the impact of technology on higher education.
‘Navigating the Doctoral Journey: Motivations and Experiences of International Students in China’ by Kun Dai, Kenichi Doi, and Oluwasegun Oladipo, addresses a critical area in the international education literature. It provides valuable insights into the ways international doctoral students engage with Chinese doctoral education and academia. Drawing on interview data from international doctoral students and Chinese supervisors, the book sheds light on international doctoral students’ motivations, adaptation, and growth in China. This important and necessary text thus makes an important contribution to our knowledge of China’s current conditions of doctoral education, higher education, and academia.- Professor Ly Tran, School of Education, Deakin University, Australia
The book provides ground-breaking research that captures the significant transformation of China's position as a center of academic production in the 21st century. China's shift from the periphery to the center of the global knowledge system has had a profound impact on international student mobility. With the efforts of international higher education through the Belt and Road Initiative, the flow of doctoral students from developing countries to China is expected to increase further. This book offers insights into this great transformation from the perspective of the students themselves, making it an invaluable resource for understanding the evolving landscape of global academia.- Professor Kazuo Kuroda, Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University, Japan, Vice President of Comparative and International Education Society (CIES)
Through compelling narratives and rigorous analysis, Navigating the Doctoral Journey offers a rare glimpse into the lives of international doctoral students in China, revealing the challenges and opportunities they encounter as they navigate a dynamic and evolving higher education landscape. The authors’ in-depth examination of the unique “Shi Men” model of doctoral education and the power dynamics that shape student-supervisor relationships provides valuable insights for both scholars and practitioners. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of international student mobility and the future of international higher education. - Professor of the Practice, Chris R. Glass, Lynch School of Education and Human Development and Center for International Higher Education, Boston College, the USA
