To Stay or Not to Stay: Long-Term Retention of International Students in Flanders

Last registered on April 30, 2025
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
To Stay or Not to Stay: Long-Term Retention of International Students in Flanders
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0015902
Initial registration date
April 28, 2025

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
April 30, 2025, 1:14 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
Belgium
Region
Vlaanderen

Primary Investigator

Name
Enzo Peeters
Affiliation
KU Leuven
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Kristof De Witte
PI Affiliation
KU Leuven
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2025-05-01
End date
2025-08-31
Keywords
Education, Welfare
Additional Keywords
Economics; Higher Education; International Student Mobility (ISM)
JEL code(s)
I23, I28
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This paper proposes a study to identify the stay-rate of international students graduating from universities in Flanders. Using administrative microdata combined with a targeted questionnaire, we aim to produce an accurate and reliable estimate of international student retention. Given the growing scrutiny of international student policies despite their demonstrated economic benefits, our findings will help inform a more evidence-based assessment of the costs and benefits of international education.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
De Witte, Kristof and Enzo Peeters. 2025. "To Stay or Not to Stay: Long-Term Retention of International Students in Flanders." AEA RCT Registry. April 30. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.15902-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
We will collect data through a questionnaire to international alumni from Flemish universities. The goal of the questionnaire is to document the student journey of those international alumni. Additionally, we use a randomized information experiment to assess the effect of specific framing of Belgium on certain outcome variables. Below, we specifically focus on this randomized information experiment.
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2025-05-01
Intervention End Date
2025-08-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Based on the information treatment (positive, control or negative), we wish to collect the following outcome variables:
* Likelihood the respondent would recommend a peer to study in Belgium
* How likely it is they would stay in Belgium, if they would graduate today
* How much they prefer Belgium to other countries
* How they would rate overall quality-of-life in Belgium
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
see above

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
n/a
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
n/a

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The experimental design consists of a randomized information experiment. Initially we treat a third of the sample with a positive information treatment, a third with a negative information treatment, and the remaning amount without information treatment. Next, we identify several quantitative outcome variables from the respondents. This allows us to assess to which degree framing of a country influences the emotionel ties to the country they were once studying and living.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
We randomly assign a value to the respondent (which is hidden to the respondent), either 1, 2 or 3. Based on the value they receive (which is with equal probability), they are assigned to either one of the three groups.
Randomization Unit
We randomize at the participant level.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
n/a
Sample size: planned number of observations
Between 2500 and 5000 International Alumni/respondents
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
n/a
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
n/a
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials