ABSTRACT

An unprecedented increase in international academic mobility has occurred over the past four decades, and nations and universities around the world have valued and encouraged academics’ transnational experiences greatly. This study explored the influence of different types of international experiences on academics’ research productivity in their domestic environment through the theoretical lens of the construction of negotiated meaning. Interviews showed that long-term international experiences in early career stage affect researchers’ productivity more deeply, substantially, and broadly than do short-term experiences in a later stage. Both types of overseas experiences exert their influence through academics’ negotiations in their research focus, audience, and network. The findings of this study contribute to the knowledge of academic mobility and its effects on academics’ research behaviour. The study’s policy implications extend beyond its empirical context, and inspire all countries who attempt to encourage either its talented diasporas to return or attract top migrant scientists.

摘要

过去40年间，国际学术流动空前增加，世界各国和大学都非常重视和鼓励学者的跨国经验。本研究通过协商意义建构的理论视角，探讨了不同类型的国际经验对其国内环境中学者研究生产力的影响。访谈表明，与职业后期的短期经历相比，职业生涯早期的长期国际经历对研究人员的生产力影响更深、更实质性、更广泛。这两种海外经历都通过学术界在研究重点、受众和网络方面的谈判产生影响。本研究的结果有助于了解学术流动性及其对学术界研究行为的影响。该研究的政策含义超出了其实证背景，并激励了所有试图鼓励其有才华的侨民回国或吸引顶尖移民科学家的国家。