International Students Day: New research finds strong links between study abroad and poverty reduction
International students from University of Brighton and across the UK contribute significantly to national and global poverty reduction targets, new study finds.
The research from academics at the University of Oxford uses data spanning the last two decades to reveal the impact of international mobility on poverty alleviation, highlighting the contribution international students make to the development of their home countries after studying abroad.
According to the study, students from middle and low-income countries study abroad not only to access a better education system, but they also acquire new skills and credentials while experiencing different cultures in a “transnational” space.
At the University of Brighton, more than 2,500 international students are welcomed every year, including through specialised scholarships and funding schemes which target applicants from low-income countries. This drives progress and knowledge, enriches the transnational experience, and prepares students for when they return home.
Back in their home countries, the research finds, students’ skills and global understanding tend to drive economic and social development in their communities.
As the world celebrates International Students’ Day on 17 November, we highlight how students from our international community are contributing to the development of their home countries.
Caroline Mukebezi
One of them is Caroline Mukebezi, who received the University of Brighton Forward Bound Scholarship for her Master’s degree in Health Promotion. Her organisation, Pathway Foundation for Health and Economic Empowerment (PFHEE), was awarded a $50,000 grant by the Elton John AIDS Foundation to improve access to HIV response for vulnerable people – especially adolescents and young girls – in her native Uganda.
Caroline said: “I wouldn’t have been able to do all these things if not for the Forward Bound scholarship, which made it possible for me to come to Brighton to get all this knowledge. The chance to learn, to study and then use that knowledge and put it into practise has greatly impacted me and brought a lot of other opportunities. It has been truly life changing and I don’t take it for granted.
“There are so many young girls and boys in Uganda who are benefiting from this work, improving access to HIV/AIDS and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights services for them. This is the power of an international education – a Brighton education”
Wulan Koagouw receiving her Science and Sustainability Award at the Study UK Alumni Awards
Dr Wulan Koagouw is a Brighton-trained ecotoxicologist whose groundbreaking research led to a better understanding of the pharmaceutical contamination of Jakarta Bay in Indonesia. Her research was adopted by the city authorities, winning her the Science and Sustainability Award at the Study UK Alumni Awards this year.
Dr Koagouw said “My identity as an Indonesian woman in science carries a significant responsibility to inspire and empower others. I have found that I am seen as a role model for this, and I love to pay it forward by involving myself in mentorship programs for women who want to return to or pursue further careers in science.
“My visibility is evidence of the possibilities that arise from hard work, perseverance, and the support of institutions that champion diversity and inclusion. It highlights the importance of creating more inclusive scientific communities that value contributions from all backgrounds, thereby enriching the global research and innovation.”
International Students Day is a powerful reminder of the importance of diversity in education and collaboration across borders, and the power of the impact of an international education on the rest of the world.
Clare Cornwell • November 21, 2024