Bis research paper number 128 The wider benefits of international higher education in the uk

3.2 Primary research methodology
From the outset the project team recognised that seeking evidence on the desired themes 
could be challenging, because some of the issues are relatively subtle and perceptions 
about them would chiefly be reported by graduates for whom English was not the first 
language. That expectation shaped the choice of a qualitative research method, which we 
believed would be necessary to obtain sufficiently deep understanding to identify potential 
‘wider’ benefits. Since so much would depend on graduates’ perceptions, which are rooted 
in their personal backgrounds and circumstances, it was agreed that qualitative interviews 
would be conducted on a lightly structured basis, using interviewers with expertise in 
facilitating career conversations and international higher education. Through relatively 
deep engagement in conversation with graduates, it was hoped the chances of recording 
relevant and reasoned perceptions would be maximised. An interview team of five expert 
individuals was assembled for this task. Given that the graduates would be located literally 
worldwide, the interviews were conducted and recorded by telephone and/or Skype. 
3.2.1 Interview preparation and structure 
The broad structure of the interview was: 

graduate’s background and motivations for UK HE study; 

reflections on UK HE experiences; 

current employment circumstances and perceived impact on career; 

other personal impacts perceived by graduate; 

professional and personal networks relating to UK HE experience; 

perceptions of wider benefits to the UK. 
Volunteers for interview were screened using responses to a short online questionnaire 
issued as part of the request for volunteers, including questions on current country of 
residence, employment circumstances and two perceptions relating to possible HE 
benefits. This built upon previous information known about them obtained from their