Abstract:
Scientific progress has long been associated with the international mobility of scientists, fostering knowledge exchange and cross-border research collaboration. Surprisingly, the broader impact of International Student Mobility (ISM) on knowledge production has received less attention. This study investigates whether the substantial influx of international students in Chinese universities contributes to scientific advancements within China. Utilizing data from 1999 to 2018, including the annual count of international students and corresponding publication records, our research employs a fixed-effects negative binomial model and instrumental variable approach. The findings shed light on how ISM may stimulate destination countries' scientific research on foreign nations, presenting novel perspectives on the global mobility of talent and its impact on scientific endeavors.
Introduction:
While the international mobility of scientists has been extensively studied for its role in scientific advancement, the broader contributions of ISM, where the majority of students are not scientists, remain less explored. ISM, a more prevalent and intricate phenomenon than scientist mobility, has witnessed a global surge. This study focuses on China, the world's leading exporter of overseas students, aiming to unravel whether the substantial presence of international students contributes to scientific progress. The research not only enriches our understanding of global mobility but also delves into its profound influence on scientific landscapes.
Literature Review:
The literature review underscores the escalating intellectual interest in the international mobility of scientists and its repercussions on knowledge production. Existing studies have predominantly measured the contributions of scientific migration to the knowledge productivity of destination countries. Notably, Black and Stephan's findings are cited, revealing the significant percentage of scientific migration contributing to knowledge production in destination countries.
Data Source:
Our research relies on panel data encompassing the annual count of international students enrolled in Chinese universities and the yearly tally of research papers published by each institution. The dataset, spanning from 1999 to 2018, is sourced from the Concise Statistics of International Students in China and the Web of Science database.
Distribution of China's International Students:
Highlighting the growth in both scale and proportion, the study indicates a substantial increase in foreign students enrolled in degree programs in China. From 1999 to 2018, the proportion of foreign degree students rose from 25.7% to 52.4%, showcasing remarkable growth, particularly at the postgraduate level and among scholarship recipients.
Mechanism of the Linkage between ISM and Knowledge Production:
To explore the connection between ISM and knowledge production, we manually examined titles of selected doctoral and master dissertations from Nanjing University. The findings reveal a positive correlation between the number of international students and publications, suggesting a potential impact of ISM on China's scientific research on foreign countries.
Conclusions:
Applying a fixed-effects model, our research investigates the influence of ISM on China's scientific research on foreign countries. The results signify a positive correlation between the number of international students and publications, emphasizing the potential contributions of ISM to scientific knowledge production. This study provides novel insights into the intricate dynamics of ISM's impact on scientific progress, urging further exploration in future studies.
In summary, our comprehensive approach, combining data analysis, literature review, and examination of linkage mechanisms, contributes essential insights into the impact of ISM on scientific knowledge production in a significant destination country like China.
