MBA thesis oral defence by Manju Gill -FR and SJ

Event Details:

You are invited to attend an MBA thesis oral defence by Ms. Manju Gill on “International graduate student retention: A study of international graduate students in their 20s and 30s to identify the factors behind staying in or moving from Fredericton upon completion of their studies.”

Time and Location: 

Date: Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022

Time: 10 a.m., AT

Place: Innovation Hub on the third-floor Harriet Irving Library or Click here to join the Teams meeting

Examining Board Members: 

David Foord, PhD (Supervisor), Faculty of Management 

Ibrahim Shaikh, PhD (Co-Supervisor), Faculty of Management 

Akhila Chawla, PhD (Internal Reader), Faculty of Management

Robert Moir, PhD (External Reader), Faculty of Business 

Oral defence chair: 

Jeff McNally, PhD, Faculty of Management 

ABSTRACT: 

The number of international students coming to Canada has been increasing and the population of these students have been rising in bigger cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. This study aims to understand the reasons why international students in their 20s and 30s stay or relocate from Fredericton to bigger cities in Canada upon completion of studies. The idea is to evaluate the mismatch between the retention rate of international students and various factors such as their age and marital status. The primary research question is: Why do international students in their 20s and 30s stay or move away from Fredericton upon completion of their graduate studies? The literature review examines the reasons behind immigration and the experiences of students in bigger as well as lower population areas in Canada and elsewhere. The interview questions examine the career aspirations, family and community-related ambitions, impact of local infrastructure, service facilities, and overall expectations of international students to stay or move away from Fredericton. The data collection consists of semi-structured interviews with international students aged between 20-39 years from nine different countries in seven different graduate degree programs. The results indicate a strong relationship exists between age and the decision to settle in Fredericton. These findings provide key inputs for public policy in Canada and elsewhere on the recruitment and retention of international students.

Building: Innovation Hub on the third-floor Harriet Irving Library