Taiwanese Students’ Considering Factors and Practical Suggestions Toward Studying Abroad in New Southbound Policy Countries

In 2017, Taiwanese government started to implement New Southbound Policy. For this policy, strengthening the cultivation and exchange of skilled people, or “talent,” between Taiwan and the southbound countries (NSPC) is the most important purpose. Notably, current data revealed that students of NSPC are more likely to study abroad in Taiwan; moreover, previous studies have explored this phenomenon called as ‘Global South to Global North’, which means the experience of students from developing countries studying in developed countries. However, compared to students of NSPC, the number of Taiwanese students studying abroad in NSPC is relatively less. To our understanding, no studies have explored what the causes for the above are. Therefore, this is a pioneer study to explore the perspectives of the students from developed countries toward studying abroad in developing countries, so that we can understand what are the main factors which may be considered when Taiwanese students consider studying abroad to NSPC (except for Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand). The mixed methods design was adopted in this study. 147 Taiwanese students accepted the questionnaire survey, 8 Taiwanese students were interviewed. The results indicated that, the following three factors are mainly taken into consideration by Taiwanese students when considering studying abroad to NSPC- academic, economic, and personal factor. Moreover, the results also echoed with the perspective of rational choice theory, which means the above three factors will be considered by students rationally, thereby influencing their decision-making on studying abroad. Furthermore, three suggestions were proposed for promoting Taiwanese students to study abroad in new southbound countries- first, Taiwanese government could assist public to broaden their understanding of these countries; second, Taiwanese government could provide students more necessary information such as the prominent academic subjects and its development in these countries, thereby helping them make decision on studying abroad in NSPC. Third, Taiwanese government could create more working opportunities for these Taiwanese students who graduate from NSPC.