“Do they feel welcome when returning home? Intuitive Law of Internationally Mobile Students: The Case of the Russian Global Education Program”

Abstract: By exploring the Russian Global Education Program as a case of outward student mobility policy created through and backed by law, the author of this thesis analyses the impact of the legal dimension of said program on students’ return and employment decisions from the viewpoint of the socio-legal theory and methodology developed by Leon Petrazycki (1867-1931). Based on the analysis conducted herein, the author argues that besides traditionally identified economic, political and social conditions that are known to affect highly skilled migrants’ (including students’) return and employment plans, there are also often overlooked legal factors existing in their countries of origin that can influence their (un)willingness to return and work at home. The latter factors are revealed and explained on the grounds of internationally mobile students’ intuitive law (understanding of justice).