Socio-Economic Impacts Of Scholarship On Student Mobility: The Case Of Kenyan Students Studying Abroad

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the socio-economic impacts of scholarships on student mobility, using Kenyan students studying abroad as a case. The focus is on geographic mobility where students leave their home country to study in a foreign country due to scholarship funding. In the recent past, there has been an increase in the number of scholarships globally translating to an increased number of students moving away from their home countries to gain knowledge from foreign countries. Such cases have been predominant, particularly in students moving from developing nations like Kenya to developed ones. However, these movements are also present from developed to developing, between developing nations, and between developed nations. As a result, this study sought to determine the social and economic impacts of scholarships towards this increased movement. This is critical as it essentially dislodges the inclination that researchers have towards student mobility for degree student social life, city offerings, where academic performance, talent, and work experience are considered wholesome contributory factors for scholarships and brings focus on opportunities for economic and social development. Other specific objectives included exploring the motivation, application processes, and major destination countries for student mobility through scholarships, exploring the nature of migration preparation processes for student mobility through scholarships, evaluating the economic and social impacts of scholarships on student mobility, and evaluating the challenges and possible solutions of scholarships on student mobility. To satisfy these objectives, the study had a mix of both qualitative and quantitative study designs wherein a survey with 80 participants guided data collection with key informant interviews also conducted for data saturation. Literature was reviewed to give a general overview of the research subject and to identify material that might aid in achieving the study’s goals. The researcher conducted a study of students who had or were studying abroad on scholarships. This was accomplished by online administration of questionnaires and interviews with all respondents selected using snowball sampling method. The data was then gathered, analyzed, presented, and evaluate to arrive at the study’s conclusions. Primarily the study was able to establish that the primary motivating factor for scholarships was encouragement by professors which was supported by 34% of the respondents. Apart from this, the most significant push factor was limited financial support in the home country supported by 73.3% of the respondents while the most significant pull factor the was availability of financial aid indicated by 96.7% of the respondents. The results show that scholarships indeed have significant social and economic impacts. The social impacts included increased social and religious interactions which were supported by 86.7% of the respondents, strengthened commitment which 83.3% of the respondents indicated that they had experienced, global learning and international understanding which was experienced by 70% of the respondents, and enhanced professional and leadership life. For the economic impacts, the study confirms leverage on tuition fees which was indicated by 100% of the respondents, leverage on transportation and accommodation indicated by 86.7% of the respondents, increased financial freedom and maturity which was experienced by 70% of the respondents, while responsibility, increased earnings, and employment potential was indicated by 56.7% of the respondents. The report thus recommends that there is a need for the Kenyan Government through the Ministry of Education to collaborate with the scholarship-providing institutions to optimize the social and economic impacts as they directly or indirectly benefit the nation.