

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 insightful discussion, Stephanie K. Kim, a comparative and international higher education scholar at Georgetown University, challenges the myths surrounding international student mobility. She reveals how universities shape recruitment pathways, particularly focusing on the dynamics between U.S. and South Korean institutions. The conversation dives into the role of education agents, the economic motivations behind recruitment, and the nuanced realities faced by international students. Kim also discusses the impact of geopolitical tensions on university funding and student experiences.
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Budget Shifts Drove Undergraduate Recruitment
- UC Berkeley rapidly increased international undergraduates after the 2009 budget cuts to generate revenue.
- The shift turned international students from talent recruits into full-fee paying revenue sources for campuses.
Korea's Policy Response To Shrinking Cohorts
- South Korea reformed universities to attract international students as domestic birthrates fell.
- Policies included English instruction expansion, scholarships, foreign faculty hires, and relaxed admissions incentives.
Community College As A Second Chance
- Jihoon fell behind in Korea, enrolled at a US community college while his mother was a visiting scholar, and later transferred to a UC campus.
- His pathway shows study abroad as a redemption route rather than a luxury choice.