The Motivation and Research Experiences of International Doctoral Students in China

This book explores the world of international doctoral students in the Chinese higher education system. It delves into their motivations, research experiences, and how they navigate the transitions across borders between their research, personal, and social worlds while pursuing their research in China. The stories, presented in both patterned categories and individual reflexive narratives, illustrate how these students navigate themselves as doctoral researchers in the Chinese context. The stories highlight the opportunities and challenges these international students encounter in their doctoral research in China. While some students progressively become competent, confident, and positive researchers as they smoothly adjust, others struggle with difficult transitions and face challenges in their relationships with Chinese supervisors, peers, and the academic field. Through analyzing international doctoral students' lived experiences and the relevant policies, the authors offer insight into China's position and characteristics in the context of global doctoral education. This book will be of special interest to academics, researchers, student counsellors, university administrators, and policymakers, both in the east and the west. It should also be of interest to international students who are currently pursuing or planning to commence doctoral studies in China.

Dr. Dai Kun is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Educational Administration and Policy, Faculty of Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Dr Dai's research interests include international and comparative education, transnational higher education, and international student mobility. Dr. Kenichi Doi is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics (IOG), the International House of Japan (I-House). He also serves as an adjunct researcher at the Center for the Study of International Cooperation in Education at Waseda University, Japan. Dr. Oluwasegun Adesola Oladipo received his Ph.D. degree in Higher Education from Peking University. His research focuses on higher education internationalisation, especially transnational education, policy and regulatory frameworks, and the impact of technology on higher education.

1. Introduction 2. International Students in China 3. Motivation to pursue a doctoral degree in China 4. Navigating between different communities of research group 5. International doctoral students' navigating trajectories in China 6. Critical Reflection 7. Conclusion