Aid, education and adventure: Thai women’s participation in a development scholarship scheme.
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Date
2012
DOI
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute of Development Studies, Massey University
Rights
Abstract
Development scholarships – endowments that provide individuals from so-called
‘developing’ nations with opportunities to undertake tertiary training abroad – are an
historically important, yet increasingly contested, form of educational aid. However,
meaningful debates about the value of this type of aid are limited by a lack of research
about the impact that it has. The experience of female development scholars is a
particularly neglected area of research. This article provides a qualitative exploration of
the experiences of twelve Thai women who have completed a postgraduate degree
through a scholarship scheme funded by the New Zealand Agency for International
Development (NZAID). This research highlights a number of benefits associated with
these schemes, including greater emotional autonomy, increased cross-cultural
knowledge, new professional networks, new work skills, and improved English-language competency. Negative outcomes identified include career disruption, new unwanted
work responsibilities, and dissatisfaction with aspects of life in their country of origin.
Description
Keywords
Development, Women, Scholarships, International students, Thailand
Citation
Wild, K. & Scheyvens, R. (2012). Aid, education and adventure: Thai women’s participation in a development scholarship scheme. Palmerston North. N.Z.: Massey University. Institute of Development Studies