International student identity and the digital environment

International students are part of a larger group of transnational transient migrants who cross national borders for study, work, and humanitarian and lifestyle reasons. Transient migrants carry with them a variety of identities that are not always homogenous because these identities are based on multiple factors such as ethnicity, culture, nationality, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic conditions, personality, personal interests, and more. This chapter proposes that in the digital age, where students spend much of their time online, identity is also moderated by their experiences in the online environment. The authors will outline the impact of transient migration and globalization on identity, and then explore the moderating effects of the digital environment on identity formation. The chapter will conclude with some reflections on the implications of this phenomenon for international education providers.