ERIC Number: EJ1278719
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2468-6891
EISSN: N/A
International Student Migration and Polymedia: The Use of Communication Media by Bangladeshi Students in Germany
Masud, Md. Matiul Hoque
Research in Social Sciences and Technology, v5 n3 p95-110 2020
Tertiary-level students from Bangladesh usually migrate to Germany for the purpose of higher studies. These international student migrants use communication media to maintain connections with family members and friends in Bangladesh and social networks with friends, classmates, and Bangladeshi community members in Germany. Drawing on the experiences of Bangladeshi student migrants in Germany and using polymedia theory, this paper investigates how the migrant students use the polymedia environment to maintain the transnational social networks and connections. This paper is based on qualitative data derived from 18 in-depth interviews with Bangladeshi migrant students in Germany. Findings suggest that using the polymedia environment, Bachelor migrant students receive emotional support from their family members back home, while Masters and PhD students are responsible for providing emotional and practical support to their left-behind families, relatives, and friends. Migrant students' media usage with families and friends living in Bangladesh is influenced by their marital status and gender as well as their familial and social structure in Bangladesh. Their use of communication media with the members of the Bangladeshi community and foreign classmates living in Germany is comparatively less frequent and more education-oriented.
Descriptors: College Students, Foreign Students, Student Mobility, Study Abroad, Information Technology, Social Media, Family Relationship, Friendship, Social Networks, Student Attitudes, Undergraduate Students, Social Support Groups, Marital Status, Gender Differences, Family Structure, Social Structure, Peer Relationship, Comparative Analysis, Foreign Countries
Research in Social Sciences and Technology. Yesilova Mah. Caldiran Cad. 29/11 Etimesgut Ankara, Turkey; Web site: https://ressat.org/index.php/ressat
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Bangladesh
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A