Part I Theoretical orientation: Citizenship, capital and capabilities -- 1 International education: A potentiality for ethical development -- 2 Sen-Bourdieu frameowork: Conceptualising normative agency -- Part II From theory to praxis: A sociological analysis of capabilities in Vietnamese international graduates -- 3 Applying the Sen-Bourdieu framework -- 4 Encountering the Vietnamese habitus -- 5 Priorities, motivations and expeactions of returnees -- Part III Empirical observations in the three 'fields' -- 7 'Intellectual' field: Education reformers and conformers -- 8 'Civic' field: Negotiating the ideals of community, citizenship and commmunity work -- Part IV Conclusion -- 9 Conclusion: Implication for theory, policy and practice.

This book examines the extent to which studying and living overseas enable returning graduates to enhance their professional work and contribute to community development. It assesses the transformative potential that returnees are assumed to have in terms of capabilities and skills acquired through an international education. This book is based on a research study on Vietnamese overseas graduates who have returned to Vietnam. It examines the complexity of competing aspirations, responsibilities, identities and cultural dynamics in these returnees’ professional, intellectual and civic environments.