Supporting Sponsored International Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from a Study of Kazakhstani “Bolashak” Scholarship Recipients

Abstract The aim of this study was to understand how international students sponsored by the “Bolashak” program administered in Kazakhstan perceived the support provided by the host institutions and the funding agency during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to gain a foundational understanding and basic description of the central phenomenon. Our findings demonstrate that “Bolashak” scholarship recipients seem generally satisfied with the overall level of support provided, however, they seem to feel better supported by the host institutions than the scholarship administering agency. We employed a combination of three theories—Principal–Agent Theory, Institutional Isomorphism Theory, and the Theory of Institutional Dynamics in Interorganizational Collaboration, which help to explain our findings. Study findings suggest several areas of improvement for institutional emergency response and sponsored students.