Mapping Prospective International Student Migration Using Digital Traces (SRI LANKA, 2014-2024)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53983/ijmds.v14n10.009Keywords:
Prospective, Proxy, International Student Migration, Digital TracesAbstract
This article examines prospective international student migration (ISM) trends from Sri Lanka between 2014 and 2024, using digital traces from Google Trends and Facebook Audience Insights as proxies for migration intentions. Amid growing global student mobility and significant socio-economic changes in Sri Lanka, including the COVID-19 and recent economic crisis, traditional data sources often fail to provide timely insights into emerging migration patterns. This study utilizes anonymized, aggregated search query data on keywords such as “student visa,” “scholarships,” destination countries, and levels or fields of study to analyze the volume, destination preferences, demographic composition, and educational interests of potential student migrants. Findings reveal a marked increase in interest in studying abroad, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic and during the economic crisis. Australia remains the top preferred destination, followed by the UK, with notable regional disparities within Sri Lanka. The data indicate a male dominance (61%) among interested individuals, with the 25–34 age group showing the highest engagement. Master’s degrees emerge as the most sought-after qualification, while Management, IT, and Applied Sciences are the most popular fields. This research highlights the value of digital trace data as a near real-time complement to traditional approaches for monitoring migration trends and provides key insights into the drivers and dynamics of contemporary Sri Lankan ISM.
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