Individual-level determinants of international academic mobility: insights from a survey of Polish scholars

Abstract This study investigates the patterns and determinants of international academic mobility among Polish scholars, focusing on short- and mid-term mobility activities such as attending conferences, project meetings, and professional training, conducting research, and lecturing. Utilizing a representative random sample survey of scholars employed in research and higher education institutions in Poland, this study explores the influence of gender, childcare responsibilities, and family financial situation on mobility while controlling for age, career stage, institution type, field of science, and region. The results indicate significant disparities in mobility, with female scholars, those with young children, and those from less affluent households being less likely to engage in career-related international travel. Scholars at advanced career stages and those who perceived travel as necessary for their research exhibited higher mobility. The findings highlight the compounded impact of gender, family, and financial factors on academic mobility, underscoring the need for targeted policies to promote equitable and inclusive participation in international academic activities. This study contributes to the literature by providing evidence from a scientific semi-periphery country on the role of household economic status, reflecting a variable rarely considered in studies on academic mobility.