Optional Practical Training: Lived Experiences (Poster 38)

• In Event: AERA Virtual Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: Contemporary Issues Related to Student Success

Abstract

I conduct a qualitative analysis, using constant comparative method, to evaluate lived experiences of international students (n=10) in Optional Practical Training (OPT), after graduation. I find that while students consider OPT as a valuable learning experience, structural barriers create unique challenges that make transition to the professional workspace challenging. These findings highlight the significance of creating support systems for international graduates and contribute to the debate around removal of OPT in the current policy discourse.

Author

• Daman Chhikara, University of California - Irvine