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Social Integration of Talent Migrants in China: A Qualitative Research in Shenzhen

Fan, Yutong LU (2025) WPMM41 20221
School of Social Work
Abstract
This thesis examines the social integration experiences of talent migrants in Shenzhen, China, within the framework of policy-driven institutional support. Distinct from traditional labor migrants, talent migrants are highly educated professionals who actively choose Shenzhen as their destination, benefiting from preferential measures such as streamlined household registration, subsidized housing, and prioritized access to educational resources. Drawing on Ager and Strang’s (2008) “Ten Domains Model of Social Integration,” the study adopts a qualitative approach based on unstructured interviews with 14 talent migrants who relocated to Shenzhen after 2018. Inductive thematic analysis reveals a marked disjuncture between institutional... (More)
This thesis examines the social integration experiences of talent migrants in Shenzhen, China, within the framework of policy-driven institutional support. Distinct from traditional labor migrants, talent migrants are highly educated professionals who actively choose Shenzhen as their destination, benefiting from preferential measures such as streamlined household registration, subsidized housing, and prioritized access to educational resources. Drawing on Ager and Strang’s (2008) “Ten Domains Model of Social Integration,” the study adopts a qualitative approach based on unstructured interviews with 14 talent migrants who relocated to Shenzhen after 2018. Inductive thematic analysis reveals a marked disjuncture between institutional acceptance and emotional belonging: while participants reported high levels of institutional trust and ease of resource access, they demonstrated limited social participation, weak cultural identification, and strategically selective relational practices. The findings also identify three context-specific factors—high cost of living, an intensely competitive work culture, and cultural detachment—that fall outside the explanatory scope of the original model. The study contributes to the theoretical refinement of social integration frameworks and offers policy insights for fostering deeper urban inclusion in high-efficiency governance contexts. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Fan, Yutong LU
supervisor
organization
course
WPMM41 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
talent migrant, social integration, institutional acceptance, urban belonging
language
English
id
9212101
date added to LUP
2025-09-16 18:32:16
date last changed
2025-09-16 18:32:16
@misc{9212101,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines the social integration experiences of talent migrants in Shenzhen, China, within the framework of policy-driven institutional support. Distinct from traditional labor migrants, talent migrants are highly educated professionals who actively choose Shenzhen as their destination, benefiting from preferential measures such as streamlined household registration, subsidized housing, and prioritized access to educational resources. Drawing on Ager and Strang’s (2008) “Ten Domains Model of Social Integration,” the study adopts a qualitative approach based on unstructured interviews with 14 talent migrants who relocated to Shenzhen after 2018. Inductive thematic analysis reveals a marked disjuncture between institutional acceptance and emotional belonging: while participants reported high levels of institutional trust and ease of resource access, they demonstrated limited social participation, weak cultural identification, and strategically selective relational practices. The findings also identify three context-specific factors—high cost of living, an intensely competitive work culture, and cultural detachment—that fall outside the explanatory scope of the original model. The study contributes to the theoretical refinement of social integration frameworks and offers policy insights for fostering deeper urban inclusion in high-efficiency governance contexts.}},
  author       = {{Fan, Yutong}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Social Integration of Talent Migrants in China: A Qualitative Research in Shenzhen}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}