Contrasting trends of contemporary migration and mobility with a focus on international students

Abstract

This article offers a discussion of current patterns and dynamics in contemporary migration and mobility, with a focus on international student flows. It draws on data and estimates from the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations, alongside insights from the migration literature and previous empirical research. Although temporary and seasonal migrants such as workers and students are often excluded from UN statistics, they play a significant role in specific national contexts. While many migrant workers are typically unskilled or face deskilling processes and heightened vulnerability, study abroad (SA) students and highly skilled migrants often occupy a more privileged position. Enabled by affordable transport and information and communication technologies (ICTs), these groups frequently engage in transnational practices and virtual mobility. To better understand the scope of contemporary global migration and mobility, this article draws on empirical research conducted by the author in Southwest France. The investigation centres on how transnational processes shape student mobility, the role of university mobility offices, and the relationship between physical and virtual mobility in shaping international students’ integration and ongoing circulation.