Localization of educational migration in the context of the adaptive function of the media

Abstract

Educational migration is a valuable resource for any state. The appeal of universities and schools for foreign students is a valuable marker of a country's prosperity, high level of science and technology development, cross-cultural comfort, social and political stability.

The research aims to study the informational factors of the adaptability of foreign students in Kazakhstan, to identify positive host-country strategies and mechanisms of negative response to student migration in the educational and social spheres.

The authors put forward the notion that media content is sensitively included in the process of adaptation of “educational migrants”, the dependence of the speed and quality of “get used to” to the new educational concept on the country of residence, previous migration experience, geographical proximity and time of study (1 semester, 4 years, etc.).

The survey and thematic interviews, which became the basis of the methodological analysis and scientific research, allowed the authors to focus on the perception of educational migration on informational factors, media and social networks involvement in the adaptive complex. The important role of universities in organizing a clear mentoring and support mechanism for international students, the formation of a favorable environment within the student community and the structures of university management are underlined.

In terms of the media representation, the image of a foreign student has positive connotations, but, more often than not, it is perceived schematically, stereotypically, and ambiguously depending on the country of residence.

The results of the study revealed a number of sensitizing factors of adaptation affecting migrant students, reflexive impulses and infomercials of social networks, stereotypical and biased nature of some texts, and low level of notification of migrants about state support programs.  The authors also described the desired communication strategy of the intra-university community in terms of working with international students.

Keywords: mass media, educational migration, foreign students, adaptation of migrants, migration policy, informational support.