Sameena Karim Jamal, Alison Taylor, and Catalina Bobadilla Sandoval
WPS 2023/2
Abstract
This paper explores international students’ orientations to employability as evidenced in their descriptions of term-time work. Undergraduate students who work often face pressures related to juggling studies and employment. We argue that international students are likely to face additional pressures related to higher education costs and the desire to open doors to migration within a context of ever-changing rules and regulations. This paper draws on Bourdieu’s analogy of “playing the game” and scholarly work on employability to analyze narratives from diverse international students who strategize to develop and revalorize capitals to enhance their employability with the aim of securing a brighter future. We argue that the onus of enhancing employability does not lie solely with individual students but is rather a responsibility to be shared at different levels. Building on the work of other scholars, we offer recommendations that may contribute to enhancing the international student experience.
KEYWORDS: international students, employability, immigration, Canada, Bourdieu, capital