Understanding international student mobility: what motivates African student choices?

Abstract

This paper aims to clarify the factors influencing African postgraduate students to undertake higher education studies abroad. A sample of 94 international postgraduate students from Africa studying at University of Witwatersrand in South Africa was used in the analysis. The results show that conditions in both the students' countries of origin and in the possible hosting countries contribute to the decision to study abroad. Of prime importance among the factors attracting students abroad is the need to acquire education of international standing. The findings have wider implications on the marketing of the higher education sector in the continent and the important role it can play in dealing with the problem of brain drain in Africa