Call for Papers: Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of International Student Mobility for Students with Parenting Responsibilities

Dear colleagues,

We are excited to remind you about the upcoming opportunity to submit an abstract to our panel at two significant conferences in 2025: the 22nd IMISCOE Conference, taking place in Paris (France) both physically and online from July 1-4, 2025, and the ENIS Conference on The Future of International Student Mobility, held in Iasi (Romania) from June 4-6, 2025.

Our panel seeks to delve into the often-overlooked experiences of students with caregiving responsibilities, particularly in the context of international student mobility. This panel is part of a collaborative effort from the COST Action - CA20115: European Network on International Student Mobility (ISM): Connecting Research and Practice. We are looking forward to bringing together scholars to explore the challenges, opportunities, and support systems available to these students.

Negotiating Multiple Responsibilities: Parenthood and International Student Mobility

As international student mobility continues to grow, so too does the diversity of students engaging in these opportunities. Traditionally, international students have been perceived as young and carefree, an assumption that has overlooked the unique experiences of those who bear caregiving responsibilities, such as parenting. Although some scholarship has touched on the impact of gender differences in the decision-making processes of these students, much remains to be discussed in terms of the broader challenges and experiences they face.

Key Themes and Discussion Points

  1. Parenthood and Social Norms: How do societal expectations and norms surrounding parenthood influence the mobility experiences of students with caregiving responsibilities?

  2. Family Arrangements and Mobility: What impact do different family structures and arrangements have on students' ability to engage in international mobility?

  3. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Support: How can HEIs better support students with parenting responsibilities who wish to take part in international study programs?

  4. Host City/Country Role: What role do host cities and countries play in ensuring that international students with caregiving responsibilities are supported, both socially and economically?

  5. Negotiating Mobility: How do students with caregiving responsibilities manage their mobility, and what strategies do they employ to overcome challenges?

  6. Obstacles to Mobility: What specific barriers do these students face in their journey toward international mobility, and how can institutions and policymakers help reduce these obstacles?

In many cases, students with caregiving responsibilities face heightened challenges, such as lack of access to local support networks, increased financial burdens, and limited access to childcare. These challenges may discourage them from participating in mobility programs, ultimately impacting the diversity of perspectives and experiences that mobility initiatives aim to foster. Given the growing focus on student well-being in higher education, addressing these concerns is critical to making international mobility more inclusive and supportive.

Call for Papers

We invite scholars interested in these topics to submit abstracts (max. 250 words) by September 10, 2024 (23:59 CET). Please include the names and affiliations of all authors and indicate which conference you would like to present at—ENIS or IMISCOE. Submissions should be sent to:

We will notify authors of the acceptance of their abstracts by September 18, 2024.

We look forward to your contributions and the enriching discussions that this panel will foster.

Best regards,
Rúna, Christof, and Thais

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