Influence of international schools on the perception of local students’ individual and collective identities,career aspirations and choice of university

Abstract

English

This article examines the influence international schools have on adolescent local students in terms of individual and collective identity, career aspiration, and type and location of the university they wish to attend. A random cluster sample of 270 students attending international, magnet and public schools in Qatar were administered a questionnaire designed to tap their perceived identities and professional and educational aspirations. The results of the study showed that students attending international schools differed from their counterparts who attend public or magnet schools in the way they perceived themselves and their career choices. The results are discussed in terms of their relevance to future research and the influence international education may have on local students.

French

Cette étude a été menée pour examiner l'influence des établissements internationaux sur les élèves adolescents d'une région en termes d'identité individuelle et collective, d'aspirations professionnelles, et de type d'universités qu'ils souhaitent intégrer et leur localisation. Suite à un échantillonnage aléatoire réalisé dans des établissements internationaux, d'enseignement spécialisé et publics au Qatar, 270 élèves ont reçu un questionnaire destiné à sonder la manière dont ils perçoivent leur identité ainsi que leurs aspirations professionnelles et éducatives. Les résultats de cette étude ont montré que les élèves scolarisés dans des établissements internationaux se distinguent de leurs homologues scolarisés dans des établissements publics ou d'enseignement spécialisé par la perception qu'ils ont d'eux-mÁmes et leurs choix de carrière. Ces résultats font l'objet de discussions quant à leur pertinence pour la recherche future et l'influence éventuelle de l'éducation internationale sur les élèves d'une région.

Spanish

En este estudio se analiza cómo influyen los colegios internacionales en los alumnos originarios del país donde se encuentran estos colegios en lo que respecta a su identidad individual y colectiva, sus aspiraciones profesionales y el tipo y la ubicación de la universidad en la que desean estudiar. Se seleccionó una muestra aleatoria de 270 adolescentes de colegios internacionales, especializados (magnet schools) y públicos de Qatar, y se les pidió que completaran un cuestionario con el objetivo de determinar cómo percibían su identidad, así como sus aspiraciones profesionales y educativas. Los resultados del estudio muestran que los alumnos que estudiaban en colegios internacionales tenían una percepción de sí mismos y de sus oportunidades profesionales diferente de la de los alumnos de los otros colegios. Se analiza la importancia de los resultados para futuras investigaciones y la influencia que los colegios internacionales pueden tener en dichos alumnos.

Keywords

aspiration college choice identity international schools

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