INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION AND DIPLOMACY: EDUCATION OF SERBIAN STUDENTS IN INTERNSHIP IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Nena A. Vasojević

Abstract

The education of scholarship students abroad throughout Serbian history was conceived as a key factor that contributed to the development of the country of origin after the completion of education. In accordance with the needs of society, the creators of educational policies in the country of origin enacted regulations and measures that encouraged Serbian students to study abroad, but also to return to their home country after their education had been completed in order to contribute with their knowledge, their contacts to the development at home. This tradition has been maintained throughout Serbian history, so even today we have Government scholarship students who study at prestigious universities in the world. As this topic is insufficiently researched and modestly represented in scientific circles in Serbia, we received an incentive for the research. The analysis of the content of the available documents and regulations allows us to see the way in which Serbian scholars are educated abroad in the 21st century. On the other hand, the data obtained from the representatives of the “Fund for Young Talents of the Republic of Serbia-Dositej” allows us to statistically look at the data related to Serbian scholarship students who studied abroad in the period from 2008 to 2022.. Based on the obtained data, it is possible to get a picture of the profile of students—scholarship holders of the RS Government Fund “Dositej “—who a are studying abroad today. This paper also makes a theoretical contribution to research that analyzes the importance of international mobility and soft diplomacy.

This paper identified the population of Serbian students studying abroad in the 21st century as scholarship recipients of the Fund for Young Talents of the Republic of Serbia, “Dositeja.” Analysis of legal acts and quantitative data indicates that the scholarship program of the Fund for Young Talents of the Republic of Serbia, “Dositeja,” is in an undefined academic space, somewhere between development, education, schooling, and graduation. when talking about academic mobility versus soft diplomacy (see: Kent, 2018). Today, Serbian scholars study in as many as 42 countries and choose the most prestigious faculties from the Shanghai list. Also, the analyzed data indicate that the education policy in Serbia aims to educate young talents abroad in economically developed countries, but at the same time, despite the contractual obligations, there is no group that ensures that insurance is provided, based on the data obtained. Also, the data show that today we do not have a clear picture of how many students received a scholarship because, when analyzing the data on awarded scholarships, there is no distribution of beneficiaries according to the criteria of older beneficiaries (Vasojević 2019), who continue their international education, which was also observed in previous research on this population. Based on the obtained data, we can only talk about the total number of awarded scholarships and not about the number of beneficiaries. It is clear that policymakers in recent years have been striving to solve the “blind spots” related to the project of educating Serbian students abroad, but they are also solving the gaps and deficiencies that are known in the security evidence of security studies. academic community and data collection through sophisticated longitudinal and internationally comparative tools. However, we should not ignore the well-known dimensions that categorize the “Dositej” scholarship as an international scholarship with features of soft power; the program itself recognizes the national interest, which Kirkland (2018) defines as the donor’s desire to fill certain skills or other gaps in the labor market, where beneficiaries are encouraged (or even required) to be in the donor’s country. The dimension of “merit” is also observed: “Scholarships are awarded to the most capable candidates, regardless of their personal background or the ability to influence national characteristics (Kirkland 2018).

References

Ayhan, Kadir Jun, Moamen Gouda, and Hyelim  Lee [Ayhan]. 2022. “Exploring Global Korea Scholarship as a Public Diplomacy Tool.” Journal of Asian and African Studies, 57 (4): 872– 893. https://doi.org/10.1177/00219096211035800

Apsite-Berina, Elina, Liga Daniela, Robate, Maris, Berzins, Girts, Burgmanis and Zaiga, Krisjane, Zaiga [Apsite-Berina et al.] 2023. “International student mobility to non-traditional destination countries: evidence from a host country.” Hungarian Geographical Bulletin 72 (2): 133-146

Arhiv Jugoslavije [AJ], MPKSHSOS, Fond, 66, F.127, J.401. „Uporedni podaci o broju studenata na 100.000 stanovnika za date zemlje 1965. godine”

Arhiv Jugoslavije [AJ], SSOK, Fond 319, F. 59, J.75, „Ministarstvo Prosvete Kraljevine Srba Hrvata i Slovenaca, Opšte odeljenje P. br. 435.”, Beograd, 20. februar 1922.

Batalova, Jeanne,  Andriy Shymonyak and Guntur Sugiyarto. 2017. “Firing Up Regional Brain Networks: The Promise of Brain Circulation in the ASEAN Economic Community.” Asian Development Bank.

Barthelt, Franziska, Diana Meschter, Friederike Meyer zu Schwabedissen and Andreas Pott. [Barthelt et al]. 2015. “Internationale Studierende – aktuelle Entwicklungen und Potenziale der globalen Bildungsmigration, Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung.”, online:http://www.bpb.de/ gesellschaft/migration/kurzdossiers/212090/internationale-studierende [17.07.2023].

Bislev, Ane. 2017. “Student-to-Student Diplomacy: Chinese International Students as a Soft-Power Tool.” Journal of Current Chinese Affairs, 46 (2): 81–109.

Bondžić, Dragomir. 2010. „Naučna saradnja Jugoslavije i Sovjetskog Saveza: 1944–1947”. U: Oslobođenje Beograda 1944, (prir.), Aleksandar Životić, str. 357-381. Beograd: Institut za noviju istoriju Srbije.

Bourdieu, Pierre. 1986. “The forms of capital.” In: Handbook of Theory and Research for Sociology of Education, ed. by J. Richardson, pp. 241-258. New York: Greenwood.

Brooks, Rachel and Johanna Waters. 2021. „International students and alternative visions of diaspora“. British Journal of Educational Studies 69 (5): 557-577.

Caldwell, Elizabeth Frances, and Denis Hyams-Ssekasi. 2016. “Leaving Home: The Challenges of Black-African International Students Prior to Studying Overseas.” Journal of International Students 6 (2): 588-613.

Czaika, Mathias, Hein de Haas, and Maria Villares-Varela. 2018. “The Global Evolution of Travel Visa Regimes.” Population and Development review 44 (3): 589-622.

 Collins, Francis, Leo, Chong Ho Kong, Mayumi Ishikawa, and, Ai-Hsuan Sandra Ma. [Collins et al.]. 2017. “International Student Mobility and After-Study Lives: The Portability and Prospects of Overseas Education in Asia.” Population, Space and Place 23 (4): e2029. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2029.

Dustmann, Christian. 1999. “Temporary Migration, Human Capital, and Language Fluency of Migrants.” Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell 101 (2): 297-314.

 Enfield, Sue. 2019. Evidence of soft power created via scholarship K4D Helpdesk Report. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies.

Fielden, John. 2007. “Global horizons for UK universities.” London, UK: The Council for Industry and Higher Education.

Filipović, Jovan. 2011. “Management of  Diaspora Virtual Universityas a Complex Organization – Serbian Diaspora Virtual University: An Emerging Leadership of a Nation.” Doktorska disertacija. University of Ljubljana.

Fond za mlade talente Republike Srbije. n. d. a. Poslednji pristup 09. 12. 2023. https://fondzamladetalente.gov.rs/cyr/%d0%be%d1%84%d0%be%d0%bd%d0%b4%d1%83/

Fond za mlade talente Republike Srbije. n. d. b. Poslednji pristup 09.12. 2023. https://fondzamladetalente.gov.rs/

Fond za mlade talente. n. d. c. Statistički podaci o stranim studentima u inostranstvu (2008-2022. godina), dobijeni putem e-maila od Fonda za mlade talente, dana 17.02.2023. godine na upit direktora Instituta društvenih nauka za potrebe autorke.

Grečić, Vladimir. 1992. Ekonomski aspekti egzodusa naučnika i visokoobrazovanih kadrova. Beograd: SANU.

Grečić, Vladimir. 2013. The Serbian Academic Diaspora. Belgrade : Institute of International Politics and Economics.

Grečić, Vladimir. 2019. Srpska stvaralačka inteligencija u rasejanju: nužnost saradnje matične države i dijaspore. Novi Sad: Matica srpska.

Hong, Natalie Yan. 2014. “EU-China Education Diplomacy: An Ef-fective Soft Power Strategy?”, European Foreign Affairs Review, 19 (3): 155–172.

International Education Data and Research. n. d. Poslednji pristup 11.03.2024. https://www.education.gov.au/international-education-data-and research/international-student-numbers-country-state-and-territory

Kahanec, Martin, and Renata Kralikova. 2011. “Pulls of International Student Mobility.” IZA Discussion Paper 6233. DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.1977819

King, Russell. 2000. “Generalizations from the history of return migration.” In: Return migration: Journey of hope or despair?, ed. by B. Ghosh (pp.7–55). Geneva: United Nations and the IOM

Kirkland, John. 2018. “Case Study: Balancing Change and Continuity—The Case of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan.” In: International Scholarships in Higher Education, ed. by J.R. Dassin et al., 147-160, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-62734-2_8.

Kolaković, Aleksandra. 2023. The role of France in strengthening science in Serbia and the Western Balkans: Between scientific cooperation and science diplomacy. Srpska politička misao, 82 (4): 11-39

Kent, Anna. 2018. Recent Trends in International Scholarships. In: International Scholarships in Higher Education, ed. by J. Dassin, R. Marsh, M. Mawer, pp. 23-42. Palgrave Macmillan: Cham. DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-62734-2_2

Lanati, Mauro, and Rainer Thiele. 2020. “Aid for health, economic growth, and the emigration of medical workers.” European University Institute.

Larsen, Marianne. 2016. Internationalization of higher education: An analysis through spatial, networks, and mobilities theories. Palgrave Macmillan.

Lostetter, Elizabeth Nora. 2010. “Gender differences in srudents’ experiences of study abroad.” Master thesis. University of Oregon: Department of International Studies and the Graduate School.

Liu, Meng, and Le Ha Phan. 2021. ““We have no Chinese classmates’: International students, internationalization, and medium of instruction in Chinese universities“ . Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 44 (2): 180–207.

Luo, Jiali, and David Jamieson-Drake. 2015. “Predictors of Study Abroad Intent, Participation, and College Outcomes.” Research in Higher Education 56 (1): 29-56.

Lima, Antonio F de. 2007. The role of international educational exchanges in public diplomacy. Place Brand Public Diplomacy, 3: 234–251

Mawer, Matt. 2018. “Magnitudes of Impact: A Three-Level Review of Evidence from Scholarship Evaluation.” In: International Scholarships in Higher Education (pp. 3–21), ed. by J. R. Dassin et al. Palgrave MacMillan. DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-62734-2_13

Maeva, Mila, Magdalena Slavkova, Plamena Stoyanova, and Mina Hristova [Maeva et. al]. 2021. Between the Worlds: Migrants, Margins, and Social Environment. Vol. 3. Sofia: IEFSEM – BAS & Paradigma, URL:https://conferenceworlds.wordpress.com/publications

Metzgar, Emily. 2016. “Institutions of Higher Education as Public Diplomacy Tools: China-Based University Programs for the 21st Century.”, Journal of Studies in International Education, 20 (3), 223–241. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315315604718

McKeown, Joshua, Luz Celaya, and Heather Ward. 2020. “Academic development, The impact of education abroad on students as learners.” In: Education Abroad, ed by. Ogden et al., 77-91. London: Routledge.

McCliry, Jonathan. 2019. “The Soft Power 30: A Global Ranking of Soft Power.” Retrieved from:chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj, https://portland-communications.com/pdf. The-Soft-Power_30.pdf.

Netz, Nicolai, Daniel Klasik, Steve Entrich, and Michelle Carmel Barker [Netz et al.] 2020. “Socio-demographics. A global overview of inequalities in education abroad participation.” In: Education Abroad: Bridging Scholarship and Practice, ed by. Ogden et al., 28-42. New York: Routledge.

Nye, Joseph. 2004. “Soft Power and Higher Education.” In: The Internet and the University: 2004 Forum, 33–60.

Netz, Nicolai. 2015. What deters students from studying abroad? Evidence from four European countries and its implications for higher education policy. Higher Education Policy, 28 (2): 151–174.

Ogden, Аnthony, Berhand Streitwieser, and Christof Von Mol. 2021. Education abroad: Bridging scholarship and practice. New York: Routledge.

Odluka o obrazovanju Fonda za mlade talente Republike Srbije, „Službeni glasnik RS”, br. 71/2008, 44/2009, 37/2011, 19/2012, 86/2012, 102/2012, 56/2013, 87/2013, 64/2014, 114/2014, 59/2015, 80/2016, 101/2016, 115/2017, 50/2018, 54/2018, 84/2018, 84/2019, 140/2020, 104/2021, 125/2021, 127/2022 i 13/2023

Özkan, Abdullah. 2015. Strategic Practices of Public Diplomacy Policies in Educational Field and Turkey’s Potential for Cultural Diplomacy, Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 176: 35 – 43.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD]. 2012. “Education at a Glance 2012.” OECD Indicators. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD]. 2013. “Education at a Glance 2013.” OECD Indicators. Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Paradise, James. 2012. International Education: Diplomacy in China. The Brown Journal of World Affairs, 19 (1): 195–205.

Perišić, Miroslav. 2012. Od Staljina ka Sartru: formiranje jugoslovenske na evropskim univerzitetima: 1945-1958. Beograd: Zavod za udžbenike.

Phan, Le Ha. 2023. “Academic Diaspora, Transnational Education-Driven Mobilities, and the ]Nation State.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education.

Rogač Mijatović, Ljiljana. 2014. Kulturna diplomatija i identitet Srbije. Beograd: Institut za pozorište, film, radio i televiziju, CLIO.

Di Pietro, Giorgio, and Lionel Page. 2008. “Who studies abroad? Evidence from France and Italy.” European Journal of Education, 43 (3): 389–398.

Di Pietro, Giorgio. 2020. “Changes in socioeconomic inequality in access to study abroad programs: A cross-country analysis.” Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, (66): 100465.

Pisarevskaya, Asya, Nathan Levy, Peter Scholten, and Joost Jansen. 2020. Migration Studies, 8 (3): 455–481

Riano, Yvonne, and Etienne P. Piguet. 2016. International student migrantion-an annotated review. New York: Oxford University Press.

Roy, Achinto, Alexander Newman, Tori Ellenberger, and Amanda Pyman. [Roy et al.] 2019. “Outcomes of international student mobility programs: A systematic review and agenda for future research.” Studies in Higher Education, 44 (9): 1630–1644.

Ministarstvo sporta Republike Srbije. n. d. Poslednji pristup 20.12.2023. https://www.mos.gov.rs/usluge-koje-ministarstvo-pruza-zainteresovanim-licima/stipendiranje-i-nagradjivanje-mladih-talenata?lang=lat

Sachverständigenrat deutscher Stiftungen für Integration und Migration [SVR]. 2012. “Mobile Talente? Ein Vergleich der Bleibeabsichten internationaler Studierender in fünf Staaten der Europäischen Union.”. Poslednji pristup 11.03. 2024. http:// www. svr- migration. de/ conte nt/ wp- conte nt/ uploa ds/ 2012/04/Studie_SVR-FB_Mobile_Talente.pdf [11.03.2024]

Trgovčević, Ljubinka. 2003. Planirana elita: o studentima iz Srbije na evropskim univerzitetima u 19. veku. Beograd. Istorijski institut.

Vasojević, Nena, and Mirko Filipović. 2017. “Medical students, beneficiaries of the state scholarships of the Republic of Serbia, and their education in the 21st century: The possibility of improvement.” Sociologija 59 (2): 189‒205.

Vasojević, Nena. 2019. „Primena ljudskih reusrsa: Uticaj stipendista koji su se školovali u inostranstvu na razvoj Srbije.” Doktorska disertacija. Univerzitet u Beogradu: Studije pri Univerzitetu u Beogradu.

Vasojević, Nena. 2022. “International students, beneficiaries of the state scholarships of the Republic of Serbia and their education in the 21^st century.” Sociološki pregled, 56 (3): 904-928.

Vaxevanidou, Maria. 2018. Education as public diplomacy: How to build on international image in education, Journal of Media Critique, 4 (14), 55-70.

Vesković-Anđelković, Milica i Nena Vasojević. 2023. „(Re)konstrukcija identiteta visokoobrazovanih povratnika: Slučaj Srbija.” Sociološki pregled 57 (4): 1074-1098.

Waters, Johanna, and Rachel Brooks. 2021. “Student migrants and contemporary educational mobilities.” Springer, 1-19.

Xiaoli Jing, R. Ghosh, Sun Zhaohui and Liu Qiang. [Xiaoli Jing, et. al]. 2020. “Mapping global research related to international students: a scientometric review.” Higher Education 80: 415–433