IADR Abstract Archives
Do they stay or do they go? practice destinations of international dental students
Objectives: The international higher education market has grown and developed rapidly. In New Zealand (NZ), 11% of university students are international, generating 9.9% of the university sector’s income. However, there is little research regarding international students’ intentions beyond graduation. This study investigated whether undergraduate students at the University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry intend to practice in NZ after graduation, and whether international dental students (BDS, BOH and BDentTech) who graduated between 2001 and 2016 are currently practicing in NZ or overseas.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used to investigate current international students’ intended destination of practice after graduation. Additionally, names of international graduates since 2001 were matched against the 2017 register of dental practitioners to determine the number currently practicing graduates in NZ. A frequency and bivariate analysis was conducted.
Results: Almost 61% of current international students indicated their intention to stay in NZ after graduation. Only 33.3% of graduates since 2001 are currently registered in NZ. The number of graduates registered increased between 2001 and 2016, but this was associated with an increase in the number of students admitted into the School. More than 70% of current students from Malaysia and China indicated their intention to practice in NZ, and about 41.5% of total international student graduates practicing in NZ are Chinese or Malaysian. All students from Brunei and Oman intend to return to their home country due to scholarship rules. BOH graduates are more likely to practice in NZ.
Conclusions: About 33% of international graduates practice in New Zealand and this trend is increasing. More current students from China and Malaysia than students from other countries intend to stay in New Zealand after graduation. These results can be used to prepare current and future graduates for a globalised society and multicultural workforce in NZ.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used to investigate current international students’ intended destination of practice after graduation. Additionally, names of international graduates since 2001 were matched against the 2017 register of dental practitioners to determine the number currently practicing graduates in NZ. A frequency and bivariate analysis was conducted.
Results: Almost 61% of current international students indicated their intention to stay in NZ after graduation. Only 33.3% of graduates since 2001 are currently registered in NZ. The number of graduates registered increased between 2001 and 2016, but this was associated with an increase in the number of students admitted into the School. More than 70% of current students from Malaysia and China indicated their intention to practice in NZ, and about 41.5% of total international student graduates practicing in NZ are Chinese or Malaysian. All students from Brunei and Oman intend to return to their home country due to scholarship rules. BOH graduates are more likely to practice in NZ.
Conclusions: About 33% of international graduates practice in New Zealand and this trend is increasing. More current students from China and Malaysia than students from other countries intend to stay in New Zealand after graduation. These results can be used to prepare current and future graduates for a globalised society and multicultural workforce in NZ.