Article
The international migration of South African educators has become an increasingly important feature of the global education market. This study investigates the factors influencing their transnational mobility while examining how they are perceived by international school leaders and colleagues. A pragmatic mixed-methods design combined data from quantitative survey data from 100 South African expatriate educators employed across Asia, Europe and the Middle East with responses from 65 international school administrators and 30 semi-structured interviews involving key educational stakeholders. Survey and interview evidence showed that domestic institutional inefficiencies—including systemic resource shortages and safety concerns—encouraged educators to seek employment abroad, while competitive remuneration, improved working conditions and stronger professional opportunities attracted them to international schools. International administrators consistently described South African educators as resilient, adaptable and culturally responsive professionals whose pedagogical expertise and English language proficiency make them valuable contributors to diverse educational environments. The findings provide practical guidance for international school leaders seeking to strengthen recruitment, professional learning and teacher retention, while also offering South African policymakers evidence to inform strategies aimed at reducing educator migration. By examining educator mobility through the complementary perspectives of talent management and diaspora scholarship, the research demonstrates how professional expertise developed within the Global South can be successfully transferred into international education systems.
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