I'm about to graduate from my Master's program. What a journey!
I enjoyed every single bit of it, and it exceeded my expectations from many angles: cutting-edge knowledge imparted by fantastic faculty, a great social experience with a lot of networking opportunities with peers and external institutions, and even the career development program left me convinced that I nailed my choice of institution.
The end, however, has been bitter-sweet. Near graduation, we learned that some recent changes in legislation made it much more challenging for foreigners to gain work permits. The new government canceled the programs to attract international talent, one of the main draws to join the program. Consequently, most of the 80% of international students had no choice but to return to their home country.
Career Services did an amazing job during the program to prepare us for life after graduation, but they suddenly became very reactive when supporting us overseas. Are they convinced that with our education, we have received enough support and we don't need more because we are far away?
There is no doubt that universities aren't accountable for political changes. Life is about change, and we must make the most of it. However, Overseas Alumni & Career Services are for many universities on the wish list and seldom a priority on their journey to Internationalization.
Hence, support for returning international graduates is usually very limited. Some institutions have online resources available for many countries, while others have developed thriving local alumni clubs that are very open to support.
For many graduates from other institutions, the support is lacking, leaving them to navigate their post-graduation journey alone. Some may argue that the career education they received should equip them to be self-sufficient in their job search no matter where they choose to go after graduation. There is undoubtedly some validity to that perspective.
Looking at it from a more holistic perspective and considering the University Success framework, building elements of alumni and career support into your initial priorities will help close the loop and construct more positive dynamics in the long run.
If you are starting your Internationalization journey, consider our workshop or reach out for more bespoke services.
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