Journal of Educational Sciences

The Multifaceted Model of Effective Recruitment of International Students in the Universities of the East of the Country

10.22055/edus.2025.47946.3651
Volume 32, Issue 2
December 2025
Pages 249-272
Journal of Educational Sciences

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

fateme taherpour 1
hadi Pourshafei 2

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Birjand, South Khorasan, Birjand, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Birjand, South Khorasan, Birjand, Iran.

Abstract
This qualitative study, using a grounded theory approach with the emergent design articulated by Strauss and Corbin (1990), explored strategies for attracting international students to universities in eastern Iran, specifically Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and the University of Birjand. The participants of this study consisted of current and former managers of the International Office of these universities, as well as faculty members who were specialists and had extensive experience in international collaborations. Sampling was purposeful and criterion-based and continued until reaching the level of theoretical saturation, with a total of 15 individuals participating in semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was performed through open, selective, and axial coding using MAXQDA software, and trustworthiness was ensured using Guba and Lincoln's criteria. The findings indicated that universities view attracting foreign students as a form of multifaceted investment. The factors effective in attracting foreign students include: establishing an international unit, having coherent regulations, accepting different cultures, having communication networks, focusing on fundamental research, a modern teaching system, leading scientific references, welfare and service facilities, and creating financial incentives. In explaining the challenges and obstacles, the following were identified: lack of educational standards, the predominance of a financial attitude, credentialism (quantity-orientation), customary/religious ties, lack of international relations, banking system sanctions, and the prevailing security structure. These challenges were divided into internal organizational and external organizational categories. In explaining effective measures and strategies, the following were extracted across three domains: educational strategies (creating virtual units, separate education, formulating standard admission criteria, offering dual degrees), research strategies (research companions, joint projects, research-oriented recruitment), and welfare strategies (material and intellectual rights). Finally, in explaining the consequences of attracting foreign students, the following were influential: positive outcomes such as cultural recognition and sharing, intellectual and scientific dynamism, and financial independence, as well as negative outcomes such as behavioral frustration (cultural duality) and academic discrimination. Ultimately, based on a typology of investment patterns, four dominant recruitment models emerged: maximum absorption, regional recruitment, elite-oriented recruitment, and project-oriented recruitment, and a multifaceted model for attracting foreign students was outlined.

Keywords

higher education
internationalization
attracting foreign students
universities of eastern Iran
Altbach, P. G., & Knight, J. (2007). The internationalization of higher education: Motivations and realities. Journal of Studies in International Education, 11(3-4), 290-305. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315307303542
Bahri Shabanipur, S., Hassan Moradi, N., & Zolfaghari Zafrani, R. (2024). Proposing a Model to Enhance Students' Life Skills: Based on a Mixed-Methods Research. Journal of Educational Sciences, 31(1), 103-122. https://doi.org/10.22055/edus.2024.45815.3552 [Persian]
Barahouei, T., & Bagherimajd, R. (2020). Educational Tourism Values with Intermediate linkage in information technology on international students' attraction in higher education. Tourism Management Studies, 15(52), 235-262. https://doi.org/10.22054/tms.2020.48152.2229 [Persian]
Bennell, P. (2020). The internationalization of higher education provision in the United Kingdom: Patterns and relationships between onshore and offshore overseas student enrolment. International Journal of Educational Development, 74, 102162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2020.102162
Bista, K., Sharma, G., & Gaulee, U. (2018). International student mobility: Examining trends and tensions. In International student mobility and opportunities for growth in the global marketplace (pp. 1-14). IGI Global. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-3451-8.ch001
Chang, D. F., & Lin, N. J. (2018). Applying CIPO indicators to examine internationalization in higher education institutions in Taiwan. International Journal of Educational Development, 63, 20-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2017.12.007
Charmaz, K., & Mitchell, R. G. (2000). Grounded theory in ethnography. Handbook of ethnography, 160, 174.
De Vita, G., & Case, P. (2003). Rethinking the internationalisation agenda in UK higher education. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 27(4), 383-398. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877032000128082
De Wit, H. (2019). Internationalization of Higher Education: Challenges and Strategies. Routledge.
Fathi vajargah, K., Ebrahimzadeh, I., Farajollahi, M., & Khoshnodifar, M. (2013). Internationalization of Curriculum in Iranian Higher Education System: Challenges and Strategies. Journal of Educational Sciences, 19(2), 45-66. https://education.scu.ac.ir/article_10117.html?lang=en. [Persian]
Fazli Yazd, H., Zamani, A., & Pourashishi, M. (2019). Acceptance International Students to the Iranian Higher Education System and the Challenges Ahead. Rahyaft, 29(2), 77-90. https://doi.org/10.22034/rahyaft.2019.13768 [Persian]
Glaser, Barney G. (1992). Basics of Grounded Theory Analysis. Mill Valley, Ca.: Sociology Press.
Hallaj dehghani, A., Fathi Vajargah, K., Khosravi, A. A., & Poushaneh, K. (2020). A Convenient Pattern for Attracting of Foreign Students in Islamic Azad University. Journal of Higher Education Curriculum Studies, 10(20), 7-39. https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.25382241.1398.10.20.2.2. [Persian]
Hsieh, C. C. (2020). Internationalization of higher education in the crucible: Linking national identity and policy in the age of globalization. International Journal of Educational Development, 78, 102245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2020.102245
Karimi Firoozjaei, M., Sharifzadeh, H., & Karamkhani, Z. (2023). Identify Components of Cultural Education and Its Relationship with Collective Communication Media (With an Emphasis on Virtual Space. Journal of Educational Sciences, 30(2), 213-234. https://doi.org/10.22055/edus.2023.44332.3481 [Persian]
Knight, J. (2015). Updated Definition of Internationalization. International Higher Education.
Maarefvand, Z., Zanganeh, F., & Ghahraman, M. (2017). Quality Evaluation of the Academic Life of the Students of Shahid Beheshti University. Educational Measurement and Evaluation Studies, 7(17), 57-78. https://jresearch.sanjesh.org/article_25269.html?lang=en. [Persian]
Ministry of Science, Research and Technology of Iran. (2018). National Report on Higher Education.
Moshki Hassan Abad, M., Ekrami, M., Karimi Dashtaki, A., & hafezi, H. (2021). Designing a Conceptual Model of the Third Generation University in System of distance education; The Case of Payame Noor University. Journal of Educational Sciences, 28(1), 165-184. https://doi.org/10.22055/edus.2021.34889.3107 [Persian]
Nakhoda, C., Hosseini, M. A., Mohammadkhani, K., & Gholi Ghorchian, N. (2019). Explaining the satisfaction status of foreign students from medical sciences universities: a qualitative study, 21st National Conference on Medical Sciences Education, Tehran. http://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.22519521.1398.12.36.1.9 [Persian]
NazarZadeh Zare, M. (2019). Identify Obstacles of the Faculty Members’ International Interactions: a Qualitative Approach. Journal of Educational Sciences, 25(2), 179-196. https://doi.org/10.22055/edu.2019.20577.2071 [Persian]
Nemati, M., Jafari, S. M., & Irani, H. R. (2022). Identification and Ranking of Factors Affecting the Satisfaction of International Students of Iranian Universities. Higher Education Letter, 15(59), 117-136. https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.20084617.1401.15.59.2.7 [Persian]
OECD. (2020). Education at a Glance 2020: OECD Indicators. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/69096873-en
Pawar, S. (2016). Internationalization of higher education in India: Pathways and initiatives. Journal of Research & Method in Education, 6(3), 53-59. DOI:10.9790/7388-06030205359
Shaafizade, H (2014). Study of the Main Challenges and Strategies to Attract Foreign Students by Using the Technique of Focus Groups. Strategy, 22(4). https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.10283102.1392.22.4.9.4 [Persian]
Shojaei-Miandoragh, M., Bijani, M., & Amir Amini Khalafloo, M. (2019). Challenges and Strategies of Admitting Foreign Students in Iranian Higher Agricultural Education. Journal of Agricultural Education Administration Research, 10(47), 52-65. https://doi.org/10.22092/jaear.2018.122761.1531 [Persian]
Strauss, A. L., & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.
UNESCO. (2018). Global Flow of Tertiary-Level Students.
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). (2021). Global flow of tertiary-level students. Retrieved October 15, 2021, from http://data.uis.unesco.org/.
Uralov, O. S. (2020). Internationalization of higher education in Uzbekistan. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 2(1), 100015. DOI:10.1016/j.ssaho.2020.100015
Wen, W., Hu, D., & Hao, J. (2018). International students’ experiences in China: Does the planned reverse mobility work?. International Journal of Educational Development, 61, 204-212. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2017.03.004
World Bank. (2020). Higher Education in the Middle East and North Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. https://doi.org/10.1596/35316

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us