It is only in recent years that research has begun to document the career outcomes and pathways of international students and alumni. The following resources include key evidence on the longer-term trajectory of international students that have studied in the U.S. and have either remained in the U.S. or returned home.
- Career Prospects and Outcomes of U.S.-Educated International Students: Improving Services, Bolstering Success: Future career prospects often drive international student decisions about where to study. This report by World Education Services, based on a survey of current international students and international alumni who studied in the U.S., provides useful insights for campuses and for career services offices and the international student and scholar services in particular.
- Working with international students in the U.S. and beyond: A summary of survey research by NCDA International Student Services Committee: This article by Balin et al. in the Journal of International Students focuses on the importance of career development services for international students. Featuring the work of the National Career Development Association, the article identifies three key areas of support for international students: knowledge of work authorization; the impact of cultural differences on the job search; and the specific career-related needs of international students. The authors also offer best practices and recommendations.
- Longitudinal alumni tracking study of the Ford Foundation’s International Fellowships Program: This alumni tracking study of 4,000+ alumni of the Ford Foundation’s largest-ever scholarship program, the International Fellowships Program (IFP), offers evidence and a range of reports on the links between international higher education and social justice and the national, local, and community-level impacts of alumni who return home after an international education in the U.S. and other countries.