The Impact of Sociodemographic and Socioeconomic Variables on Students' International Mobility Decisions

Abstract

This research was inspired by the increasing importance of international experience in today’s job market and the need to understand the factors influencing university students' mobility decisions. Researchers from Debrecen University studied the mobility inclination of students to determine whether sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables influence students' motivation to study or move abroad. Our research question focused on the revelation of significant correlations between students' willingness to move abroad and various social background variables. We aimed to uncover how factors such as gender, type of settlement, parental education, and financial situation shape students' motivations and decisions regarding their international mobility proclivity. The research methodology involved a quantitative approach, utilizing a structured questionnaire. The first part explored the respondents' sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, followed by a block of questions about the respondents’ attitudes towards mobility. Descriptive statistical analyses using the chi-square test were carried out, and seventeen significant correlations were found. The social variables examined include gender, type of settlement, parents’ educational level and foreign language skills, subjective financial situation of the family and previous schooling abroad. The findings provide valuable insights into the factors that influence student mobility, which can help to understand students’ motivation, so that universities can develop tailored international programmes, and ensure an inclusive and supportive educational environment that fosters international engagement among students. The findings align with existing literature, which suggests that factors such as gender, prior schooling abroad, and financial status play essential roles in shaping students' decisions to move abroad.