View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Perceived employability of international doctoral students in the UK: applying Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Perceived employability of international doctoral students in the UK: applying Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory.
Authors: Wang, Fa (AUTHOR), Huang, Rong (AUTHOR), Lim, Wai Mun (AUTHOR), Zhang, Jinhua (AUTHOR)
Source: Studies in Higher Education. Nov2025, Vol. 50 Issue 11, p2327-2345. 19p.
Subjects: Employability, Ecological systems theory, College environment, Career development, Business schools, Qualitative research, Foreign study
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
Abstract: The quality of the UK's doctorate training system plays a fundamental role in fostering vibrant research outputs and attracting global talent. However, while maintaining a consistently high standard of quality remains static and challenging, little is known about how the employability of international doctorate students is shaped and at what juncture it is opportune to support their employability during their research studies. This paper aims to understand the employability of international doctoral students within business schools at British universities, drawing on Urie Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory as a framework. The qualitative study involves 15 international doctoral students from 9 business schools. The findings uncover various environmental systems impacting their employability. In addition, this study theoretically extends employability research by applying Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory to provide a multi-layered understanding of international doctorate employability, offering a novel framework for targeted career support interventions. Further, the implications highlight the urgent need for tailored support to build industrial connections, promote departmental collaboration to scaffold a dynamic research environment, proffer multiple resource channels, and create employment opportunities both inside and outside of the university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Studies in Higher Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 189062473
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Perceived employability of international doctoral students in the UK: applying Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Fa%22">Wang, Fa</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Huang%2C+Rong%22">Huang, Rong</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lim%2C+Wai+Mun%22">Lim, Wai Mun</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Jinhua%22">Zhang, Jinhua</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Studies+in+Higher+Education%22">Studies in Higher Education</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 50 Issue 11, p2327-2345. 19p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employability%22">Employability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecological+systems+theory%22">Ecological systems theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+environment%22">College environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+development%22">Career development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Business+schools%22">Business schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+study%22">Foreign study</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The quality of the UK's doctorate training system plays a fundamental role in fostering vibrant research outputs and attracting global talent. However, while maintaining a consistently high standard of quality remains static and challenging, little is known about how the employability of international doctorate students is shaped and at what juncture it is opportune to support their employability during their research studies. This paper aims to understand the employability of international doctoral students within business schools at British universities, drawing on Urie Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory as a framework. The qualitative study involves 15 international doctoral students from 9 business schools. The findings uncover various environmental systems impacting their employability. In addition, this study theoretically extends employability research by applying Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory to provide a multi-layered understanding of international doctorate employability, offering a novel framework for targeted career support interventions. Further, the implications highlight the urgent need for tailored support to build industrial connections, promote departmental collaboration to scaffold a dynamic research environment, proffer multiple resource channels, and create employment opportunities both inside and outside of the university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Studies in Higher Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=189062473
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/03075079.2024.2412833
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 2327
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Employability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ecological systems theory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College environment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Business schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign study
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Perceived employability of international doctoral students in the UK: applying Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wang, Fa
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Huang, Rong
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lim, Wai Mun
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhang, Jinhua
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 11
              Text: Nov2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 03075079
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 50
            – Type: issue
              Value: 11
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Studies in Higher Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1