What are Chinese students’ Perspectives on Their Employability Construction Through One-year Postgraduate Study in A UK University?

Abstract

This research conducts an in-depth semi-structured interview with Chinese students who study at a UK university. Even while more students are choosing to study abroad, it is clear that these degrees are no longer as regarded as they once were, and returning students still face the same obstacles in finding employment after graduation. This research is employed to better understand how contemporary graduates define employability and what value they are looking for while studying in the UK in light of the devaluation of an international degree. It starts with employability which consists of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ currencies proposed by Brown and Hesketh (2004) to explore Chinese students' perceptions of employability construction during their one-year master’s studies in the UK. It is revealed that overseas qualification does not provide any more ‘hard’ currencies compared with an equivalent degree in China, as most participants positioned themselves as a ‘player’ who would like to use ‘strategies’ to win a competitive advantage during the job-seeking process, students accumulate ‘soft’ currencies from their UK experience to enhance potential employability. Nevertheless, Chinese students feel that the UK does not provide tailored employment assistance since international students are neglected in the job market. Additionally, graduates are unwilling to participate in workshops that could improve their soft skills since they feel culturally marginalised. It is suggested that students should overcome lethargy and a lack of work awareness, actively engage and utilise the resources offered by the university to improve their soft skills in order to be more competitive for jobs after graduation at a time when international qualifications are no longer a guarantee of employment.