Remote Work, Self-Efficacy, and Geographical Distance: Drivers of International Graduates’ Staying Intentions in the Netherlands

Abstract

This thesis examines how remote work opportunities influence international students’ intentions to stay in the Netherlands after graduation. The research focuses on whether flexible job arrangements, specifically hybrid and remote-first roles, encourage students to remain, and how this relationship is affected by their confidence in working remotely and the distance to their home country. A vignette based survey experiment was conducted with 105 international students enrolled at Dutch universities, who evaluated hypothetical job offers varying in remote work flexibility. The results show that students are significantly more likely to stay when offered hybrid or fully remote jobs, especially those who feel capable of working effectively in such environments. However, geographical distance did not significantly alter this relationship. These findings suggest that remote work flexibility, paired with strong digital self-efficacy, can play a critical role in retaining international talent. For both employers and policymakers, this highlights the value of offering flexible work and supporting students in developing remote work skills.