The influence of the internet on the sociocultural integration of migrants: a study on Erasmus students from ISCAP

Abstract

There are two issues which are essential in the understanding of the integration
of student migrants. One is the occurrence of Internet-based practices concerning migration
intentions and decisions. The other relates to a latent research hypothesis that the Internet and
associated practices stimulate people’s propensity to move. Initially, we conducted a literature review, where we addressed several topics adjacent to the subject under study, and then surveyed a sample of approximately 90 people to see if the theory applied in practice.
Our study clearly demonstrates that most young-adult students, either ERASMUS students in Portugal or students planning to go on ERASMUS next semester, have adopted communicative practices that integrate the Internet into their migration decision-making processes - 56,3% of all recent movers retrospectively estimate that the Internet had an important impact on their choice of country to study in, and 73,3% of respondents who plan to move also seek move-related information.
Thus, after comparing the theory we read with the results of our implementation, we can affirm that the Internet effectively plays a determining role in the integration of the migrant community.