New Books Network

Stephanie K. Kim, "Constructing Student Mobility: How Universities Recruit Students and Shape Pathways between Berkeley and Seoul" (MIT Press, 2023)

Sep 8, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, Stephanie K. Kim, an expert in comparative and international higher education at Georgetown University, challenges preconceived notions of international students. She explores how universities, rather than students, shape pathways for global mobility, particularly between Berkeley and Seoul. Kim reveals the significance of South Korean high schools in student recruitment and how economic strategies impact both campuses and local communities. The conversation also delves into the complex identities and stereotypes faced by international students, shedding light on their evolving experiences.
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INSIGHT

Universities Shape Student Mobility

  • Universities create mobility pathways and actively recruit students rather than students being naturally mobile.
  • Korean students served as an analytic lens linking UC Berkeley and Yonsei's recruitment strategies and flows.
INSIGHT

Revenue Drives International Recruitment

  • After the Great Recession UC campuses shifted to recruiting fee-paying international undergraduates as revenue sources.
  • International undergraduate proportions at some UC campuses rose rapidly from about 3% to 18% within a few years.
INSIGHT

Korea Reorients To Attract Students

  • South Korea reversed from sending to actively attracting international students to offset a shrinking domestic pool.
  • Policies included scholarships, English-taught courses, and relaxed international quotas to incentivize recruitment.
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