Reimagining International Student Mobility in Asia: Embracing the ‘Whole Person’ within the Study Abroad Context

This introductory chapter sets the conceptual foundation for the volume by reimagining international student mobility (ISM) in Asia through a holistic and context-sensitive lens. It challenges prevailing Western-centric perspectives that have long dominated ISM research and foregrounds the importance of recognising international students as whole persons—socially, emotionally, linguistically, and academically situated. Drawing on theoretical debates and empirical evidence, the chapter explores the evolving nature of ISM in diverse Asian contexts, with particular attention to students’ identity negotiations, intercultural encounters, and (dis)investment in languages other than English. It underscores the uneven outcomes of study abroad experiences, showing how structural constraints, limited institutional support, and sociocultural exclusion may hinder students’ development and sense of belonging. The chapter also reviews and synthesises the individual contributions in this edited volume, which collectively examines student mobility across twelve Asian countries. These chapters explore motivations for study abroad, linguistic and cultural integration, aspirations for global citizenship, and institutional responses to internationalisation. By weaving together these insights, the chapter calls for a shift away from monolithic narratives of success and transformation, encouraging a more grounded, multilingual, and inclusive understanding of ISM that reflects the diverse realities of mobile students navigating the Asian higher education landscape.