The impact of socially responsible practices on the subjective well-being of migrant students
Keywords:
social work, social support, university, socio-cultural adaptation, legal support
Abstract
Subjective well-being significantly influences migrant students’ academic performance, the attractiveness of the host region, and their self-assessed quality of life. This study aimed to establish the relationship between subjective well-being, linguistic development, and academic outcomes among international students in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, with a focus on identifying socially responsible practices that support their adaptation and continued studies. A quantitative survey conducted at three universities (n=324) examined motivations for choosing a university, barriers to adaptation, and factors connected to well-being and academic success. The findings show that the leading motivations for choosing a Russian university were the price- to-quality ratio, opportunities related to language and work, perceived quality of education, and the influence of the social environment, including recommendations from friends and relatives. Among the barriers, students identified several social and institutional factors, such as tuition fees (44.7%), language proficiency challenges, dormitory availability (55.8%), limited opportunities to study Russian (25.6%), and concerns about safety at the university (10.1%). Respondents noted that their desire to continue studying at their chosen institution would increase if universities and city authorities paid more systematic attention to the needs of international students and applied social work approaches tailored to their experiences. Overall, the study indicates that subjective well-being acts as a lever for strengthening the sustainable competitiveness of regional universities. Policies aimed at attracting and retaining international students should integrate social work measures that create a comfortable environment for communication and living, support linguistic and cultural development, expand employment opportunities, and provide clear legal guarantees.
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References
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Kamyshanskaya, S. S. (2022). “Soft power of modern Russia in the context of development of educational and research tracks of public diplomacy”. State and Municipal Management. Scholar Notes, 1, 276–282. https://doi.org/10.22394/2079-1690-2022-1-1-276-282
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Kanunnikova, A. M. (2023). “International trade in educational services in the conditions of digital transformation”. Vestnik universiteta = University Bulletin, 9, 140–148.
Komarova, Ju. A. (2013). “Natural language and learning environment as a factor in overcoming the communicative and linguistic and cultural difficulties of foreign students”. Vestnik SPbGU = Bulletin of St. Petersburg State University, Ser. 9, 4, 67–77.
Krasnikova, I., Dyakonova, I., & Evdoshenko, O. (2024). “Simulation modeling as a means of integrating infrastructure for individual mobility in urban environments”. E3S Web of Conferences, 535, 04003. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202453504003
Kulikova, O. A. (2017). “The perceptual basis of naive categorization of the objective world”. Vestnik GUU = Vestnik Universiteta, 5, 190–195.
Letova, N. V. (2024). “Traditional family values: Moral basis of the state”. Gaps in Russian Legislation, 17(1), 059–066. https://doi.org/10.33693/2072-3164-2024-17-1-059-066
Lutova, Ju. A., & Shhanina, E. V. (2024). “Social adaptation of foreign students in regional universities.” Vestnik Kemerovskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, 9(1), 11–18.
Mikhaylova, S. S. (2024). “Development of an intelligent system for analyzing the achievements of a university student”. Economic Problems and Legal Practice, 20(2), 185–192.
Mirzoyan, M. E. (2023). “Legal education: The idea of continuity”. Lobbying in the Legislative Process, 2(3), 9–12. https://doi.org/10.33693/2782-7372-2023-2-3-9-12
Moser, P., Voena, A., & Waldinger, F. (2014). “German Jewish émigrés and US invention”. American Economic Review, 104(10), 3222–3255. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.104.10.3222
Mukhasheva, B. (2023). “The impact of educational robotics on cognitive outcomes in primary students”. European Journal of Educational Research, 12(4), 1683–1695.
Petrov, V.V. (2023). “Export of education as a tool for the formation of soft power”. Professionalnoe obrazovanie v sovremennom mire = Professional Education in the Modern World, 13(3), 459–466. https://doi.org/10.20913/2618-7515-2023-3-6
Pimonova, S. A., & Fomina, E. M. (2018). “Growing attractiveness of Russian universities for international students”. University Management: Practice and Analysis, 22(4), 97–109. https://doi.org/10.15826/umpa.2018.04.043
Polihina, N. A., & Trostjanskaja, I. B. (2020). “Problems of adaptation of international students in Russia”. Sociological Research, 46(11), 149–156. https://doi.org/10.31857/S013216250009565-4
Pulido-Capurro, V. M., Olivera-Carhuaz, E. S., Briceño-Vergel, G., Acevedo-Flores, J., & Quiroz-Rosas, J. (2025). “Social responsibility as a cross-cutting axis of the university’s commitment to the university community and interest groups”. Journal of Sustainable Competitive Intelligence, 15(00), e0532. https://doi.org/10.37497/eagleSustainable.v15i.532
Rostovskaya, T. K., & Zolotareva, O. A. (2021). “Trends of academic mobility in Russia: Statistical analysis and forecasting”. Integration of Education, 25(3), 421–439. https://doi.org/10.15507/1991-9468.104.025.202103.421-439
Shagojan, H. V. (2020). “A categorical and phenomenal analysis of educational diplomacy in Russia and the world”. Q.E.D. Mediation: Politics, Philosophy, Law, 1. https://mediare.esrae.ru/ru/30-r34
Suslov, I. D. (2022). “Prospects for the development of the Russian online education market in the era of the sanctions crisis”. Bulletin of the Moscow City Pedagogical University. Series: Economics, 3(33), 89–100.
Talanov, S. L. (2024). “Export of Russian higher education as a tool of soft power”. Social and Political Researches, 1(22), 68–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.20323/2658-428X-2024-1-22-68
Toshpulotov, A. A., Surina, E. A., Matveeva, I. V., & Marikjan, E. A. (2024). “Educational migration and its causes: A theoretical analysis”. Theoretical Economics, 10, 85–93.
Tusset, R., Borges Vieira, G. B., Lazzari, F., & Gonçalves, R. B. (2025). “Proposal of a model for evaluating satisfaction with the physical work environment in educational institutions”. Journal of Sustainable Competitive Intelligence, 15(00), e0467. https://doi.org/10.24883/eagleSustainable.v15i.467
Vassilchenko, N. V. (2024). “Social partnership in education as a subject of legal relationship”. Gaps in Russian Legislation, 17(7), 072–078. https://doi.org/10.33693/2072-3164-2024-17-7-072-078
Wang, T. (2024). “Chinese as an instrument of cultural diplomacy of the People’s Republic of China”. International Relations, 1, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.7256/2454-0641.2024.1.69516.
Abdullayev, I., Kupriyanova, A., Stepanova, D., Rybakov, A., Galkin, A., & Malchukova, N. (2024). “Reducing social inequality and improving access to education: Features of international legal regulation”. Revista Juridica, 3(79), 622–637, e-7514. https://doi.org/10.26668/revistajur.2316-753X.v3i79.7514
Akhmetshin, E., Makushkin, S., Abdullayev, I., Yumashev, A., Kozachek, A., Shichiyakh, R., & Shakhov, D. (2024). “Opportunities to increase the efficiency of universities’ research and innovation activities: Scientometric evaluation of researchers’ work under external information constraints”. Qubahan Academic Journal, 4(1), 240–249. https://doi.org/10.48161/qaj.v4n1a258
Antjuhova, E. A., & Kasatkin, P. I. (2020). “Digital vector in global educational policy: Will it ensure social justice and access to education?” Vestnik MGIMO = MGIMO Review of International Relations, 5(74), 331–351.
Antonova, N. L., Sushchenko, A. D., & Popova, N. G. (2020). “Soft power of higher education as a global leadership factor”. Obrazovanie i nauka = The Education and Science Journal, 22(1), 31–58. https://doi.org/10.17853/1994-5639-2020-1-31-58
Aref’ev, A. L., & Sheregi, F. Je. (2014). International students in Russian universities. Section one: Russia in the international education market. Section two: Formation of a contingent of foreign students for Russian universities. Moscow: Center for Sociological Research.
Beloglazova, L. B., Abdullaev, I., Samusenkov, V. O., & Livson, M. V. (2025). “Influence of digitalization on competition among universities”. Perspektivy nauki i obrazovaniya = Perspectives of Science and Education, 3, 607–622. https://doi.org/10.32744/pse.2025.3.40
Bobkov, V., & Shichkin, I. (2024). “Labour and forced migration into post-Soviet Russia”. In Handbook on Migration and Development (pp. 281–298). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789907131.00027
Borodina, M., Idrisov, H., Kapustina, D., Zhildikbayeva, A., Fedorov, A., Denisova, D., Gerasimova, E., & Solovyanenko, N. (2023). “State regulation of digital technologies for sustainable development and territorial planning”. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 18(5), 1615–1624. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.180533
Bulatova, T. A., & Gluhov, A. P. (2019). “Factors for attracting educational migrants (on the example of Siberian universities)”. Vestnik RUDN. Serija: SOCIOLOGIJa = RUDN Journal of Sociology, 19(1), 40–52.
Chzhou, I., & Zhou, Yi. (2023). “Management of safety training of foreign students in universities of the People’s Republic of China”. Gosudarstvennoe i municipal’noe upravlenie. Uchenye zapiski = State and Municipal Management. Scholar Notes, 3, 264–272.
Danilova, S. D. (2024). “A project-based approach to managing the interaction of digital university stakeholders”. Economic Problems and Legal Practice, 20(2), 297–302. https://doi.org/10.33693/2541-8025-2024-20-2-297-302
Dzyuba, E. M., Ilchenko, N. M., Latukhina, A. L., Marinina, J. A., & Sheveleva, T. N. (2021). “National-regional component in concept of open education courses on Russian as foreign language”. Revista EntreLinguas, 7(N. esp. 4), e021078. https://doi.org/10.29051/el.v7iesp.4.15623
Gumerova, G. I., & Shaimieva, E. Sh. (2024). “Teleworking in the data economy for Generation Z: Analyzing the opinions of high school students”. Economic Problems and Legal Practice, 20(1), 244–251. https://doi.org/10.33693/2541-8025-2024-20-1-244-251
Jaku, G., & Ivanova, A. (2018). “Higher education in Arab countries: Current issues”. Azija i Afrika segodnja = Asia and Africa Today, 1, 53–59.
Kamyshanskaya, S. S. (2022). “Soft power of modern Russia in the context of development of educational and research tracks of public diplomacy”. State and Municipal Management. Scholar Notes, 1, 276–282. https://doi.org/10.22394/2079-1690-2022-1-1-276-282
Kanakova, A. E. (2024). “Conceptual model of legal regulation of digitalization of rights and freedoms in the Russian Federation”. Gaps in Russian Legislation, 17(3), 044–052. https://doi.org/10.33693/2072-3164-2024-17-3-044-052
Kanunnikova, A. M. (2023). “International trade in educational services in the conditions of digital transformation”. Vestnik universiteta = University Bulletin, 9, 140–148.
Komarova, Ju. A. (2013). “Natural language and learning environment as a factor in overcoming the communicative and linguistic and cultural difficulties of foreign students”. Vestnik SPbGU = Bulletin of St. Petersburg State University, Ser. 9, 4, 67–77.
Krasnikova, I., Dyakonova, I., & Evdoshenko, O. (2024). “Simulation modeling as a means of integrating infrastructure for individual mobility in urban environments”. E3S Web of Conferences, 535, 04003. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202453504003
Kulikova, O. A. (2017). “The perceptual basis of naive categorization of the objective world”. Vestnik GUU = Vestnik Universiteta, 5, 190–195.
Letova, N. V. (2024). “Traditional family values: Moral basis of the state”. Gaps in Russian Legislation, 17(1), 059–066. https://doi.org/10.33693/2072-3164-2024-17-1-059-066
Lutova, Ju. A., & Shhanina, E. V. (2024). “Social adaptation of foreign students in regional universities.” Vestnik Kemerovskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, 9(1), 11–18.
Mikhaylova, S. S. (2024). “Development of an intelligent system for analyzing the achievements of a university student”. Economic Problems and Legal Practice, 20(2), 185–192.
Mirzoyan, M. E. (2023). “Legal education: The idea of continuity”. Lobbying in the Legislative Process, 2(3), 9–12. https://doi.org/10.33693/2782-7372-2023-2-3-9-12
Moser, P., Voena, A., & Waldinger, F. (2014). “German Jewish émigrés and US invention”. American Economic Review, 104(10), 3222–3255. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.104.10.3222
Mukhasheva, B. (2023). “The impact of educational robotics on cognitive outcomes in primary students”. European Journal of Educational Research, 12(4), 1683–1695.
Petrov, V.V. (2023). “Export of education as a tool for the formation of soft power”. Professionalnoe obrazovanie v sovremennom mire = Professional Education in the Modern World, 13(3), 459–466. https://doi.org/10.20913/2618-7515-2023-3-6
Pimonova, S. A., & Fomina, E. M. (2018). “Growing attractiveness of Russian universities for international students”. University Management: Practice and Analysis, 22(4), 97–109. https://doi.org/10.15826/umpa.2018.04.043
Polihina, N. A., & Trostjanskaja, I. B. (2020). “Problems of adaptation of international students in Russia”. Sociological Research, 46(11), 149–156. https://doi.org/10.31857/S013216250009565-4
Pulido-Capurro, V. M., Olivera-Carhuaz, E. S., Briceño-Vergel, G., Acevedo-Flores, J., & Quiroz-Rosas, J. (2025). “Social responsibility as a cross-cutting axis of the university’s commitment to the university community and interest groups”. Journal of Sustainable Competitive Intelligence, 15(00), e0532. https://doi.org/10.37497/eagleSustainable.v15i.532
Rostovskaya, T. K., & Zolotareva, O. A. (2021). “Trends of academic mobility in Russia: Statistical analysis and forecasting”. Integration of Education, 25(3), 421–439. https://doi.org/10.15507/1991-9468.104.025.202103.421-439
Shagojan, H. V. (2020). “A categorical and phenomenal analysis of educational diplomacy in Russia and the world”. Q.E.D. Mediation: Politics, Philosophy, Law, 1. https://mediare.esrae.ru/ru/30-r34
Suslov, I. D. (2022). “Prospects for the development of the Russian online education market in the era of the sanctions crisis”. Bulletin of the Moscow City Pedagogical University. Series: Economics, 3(33), 89–100.
Talanov, S. L. (2024). “Export of Russian higher education as a tool of soft power”. Social and Political Researches, 1(22), 68–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.20323/2658-428X-2024-1-22-68
Toshpulotov, A. A., Surina, E. A., Matveeva, I. V., & Marikjan, E. A. (2024). “Educational migration and its causes: A theoretical analysis”. Theoretical Economics, 10, 85–93.
Tusset, R., Borges Vieira, G. B., Lazzari, F., & Gonçalves, R. B. (2025). “Proposal of a model for evaluating satisfaction with the physical work environment in educational institutions”. Journal of Sustainable Competitive Intelligence, 15(00), e0467. https://doi.org/10.24883/eagleSustainable.v15i.467
Vassilchenko, N. V. (2024). “Social partnership in education as a subject of legal relationship”. Gaps in Russian Legislation, 17(7), 072–078. https://doi.org/10.33693/2072-3164-2024-17-7-072-078
Wang, T. (2024). “Chinese as an instrument of cultural diplomacy of the People’s Republic of China”. International Relations, 1, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.7256/2454-0641.2024.1.69516.
Published
2026-03-29
How to Cite
Babayeva, A., Dzyuba, E., & Marinina, Y. (2026). The impact of socially responsible practices on the subjective well-being of migrant students. Interacción Y Perspectiva, 16(2), 665-684. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19254555
Section
Artículos de Investigación
