ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTE TO INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENTS’ MOTIVATION TO PURSUE A DEGREE IN AGRICULTURE IN THE U.S.

Abstract

There are many studies conducted on what motivates undergraduate American students to pursue a degree in agriculture or even enroll in agricultural courses in the United States. In contrast, there is very little research on what motivates international graduate students to pursue a degree in agriculture in the United States. This resulted in a significant gap in the literature that needed to be resolved to identify the factors that motivate international graduate students to pursue a degree outside their countries. This study helped to identify these factors to raise awareness in higher education about international graduate students’ motivations. This research study used a qualitative approach. A semi-structural interview was used as the primary data collection method, along with using arts-based inquiry, photo elicitation, to capture richness of data. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Eleven international graduate students in the College of Agriculture and Life Science at the University of Florida participated in the study. The results included six main factors that contributed to the participants’ motivations and decision-making to study abroad in the U.S. These factors were family and community support and influence (FCSI), financial factor (FF), cultural exposure 11 and personal growth (CEPG), educational system in the U.S.A (ES), career and employment opportunities (CEO), and political factor (PF). The photo elicitation results were about the influence that participants received from people. Results from this study could inform future higher education recruiting and advising practices with international graduate students.