Collaboration patterns of mobile academics: The impact of international mobility

Abstract

Countries have developed a variety of policies to attract and retain foreign talents who can bring multiple benefits to the host country, including knowledge assets and international network. It is in their interest if the talents contribute both to the development of local research community while continuing the connection with international community. Using a sample of highly mobile academics in Singapore, the study tracks the evolution of local and international collaboration after an international career move. In particular, the study examines the change in research collaboration in the current host country in comparison to collaboration with prior host countries. By analyzing the bibliometric, survey and profile data of 378 faculty members, we found that local collaboration increases quickly after a scholar moves to a new country, but this increase is at the cost of decreasing international collaboration. Collaboration with prior countries remains but gradually fades out after the move.