I am an Associate Professor at BI Norwegian Business School, Department of Leadership and Organizational Behaviour. I received my PhD from Griffith University, Department of International Business and Asian Studies, in 2016. The title of my PhD thesis: Diverse Stakeholders' Perceptions of the Attributes needed by Chinese returned Graduates in the Hotel Industry in China. Prior to my job at BI Norwegian Business School, I was an Assistant Professor at Jönköping International Business School (2019-20). I have also been a Research Assistant at Aalborg University (2018-19); an Assistant Professor at the University College of Northern Jutland (2017-18); and a Sessional Lecturer/Tutor at Griffith University (2015-17) and Queensland University of Technology (2016-17).
My research interests: professional socialization; international education; career; work integrated learning; and tourism and hospitality education. I have published in international peer reviewed journals within the fields of tourism and hospitality management and human resources, education, and Chinese tourism research.
My teaching areas: Organisational behavior and leadership
Publikasjoner
Sonnenschein, Katrine Biering (2023)
Understanding Career Construction and Acculturation Strategies Among Chinese International Students in Australia
The purpose of this study was to investigate the career adaptability and the acculturation of Chinese international hospitality students, enrolled in an Australian university. Furthermore, the study explored how their career adaptability and acculturation are related. The methodology included a thematic analysis of 19 semi-structured interviews with Chinese international hospitality students enrolled at a Southeast Queensland Australian University. The results showed that the career adaptability (career control and career concern) were driven by the students’ own agency or family influences. Furthermore, I found that the students were either host or home culture oriented, and they acculturated mainly through work/internships, socializing and group work at university. Finally, I found that acculturation has an impact on international students’ career adaptability, and that the students’ career adaptability also affects their acculturation.
“Make it possible for more people to work at home!” representations of employee motivation and job satisfaction in Danish and Norwegian newspapers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Pre-pandemic, the international education marketplace was expanding rapidly along with cross-border educational mobilities. Researchers have explored the adaptions of international students to study destinations, notably within an acculturation framework. However, researchers have given less attention to adapting to life in the country of origin that international students encounter as returnees. It is commonplace for returning graduates to transition from higher education to employment. Despite such challenges, few studies have investigated how international students reintegrate into the job markets of their home countries. In this paper, we discuss the current state of relevant research on acculturation and reacculturation and provide a foundation for future research. Finally, theoretical and practical contributions in the field of counselling and guidance are provided.
Sonnenschein, Katrine Biering (2020)
Professional Socialisation and Career Development of Chinese international tourism and hospitality students and graduates: A Revised Socialisation Framework
Weidman, J.C. & DeAngelo, L. (red.). Higher Education and the Early Career: Theory, Research and Application
Sonnenschein, Katrine Biering (2020)
‘It’s Important for Us to Know How to Do Teamwork’: Perceptions of Chinese International Hospitality Students Regarding Teamwork Skills
It is important for graduate employees and their employers that Australian graduates (both domestic and international) develop knowledge, skills, and other qualities that are easily transferrable to their employment in Australia, China, and the Asia-Pacific region. Much contemporary research addresses the appropriateness of graduate attributes such as leadership, teamwork, and communication skills in relation to meeting employers’ needs. This qualitative study contributes to these discussions by comparing how Chinese and domestic graduates apply a lesser regarded attribute, the use of connections, to the work setting. Since Chinese employers follow the principles of guanxi (being able to earn and use influential networks), this might complicate attempts by returned Chinese graduate employees (“sea-turtles”) who are graduates of Australian universities to transfer their use of connections. This study compares Australian graduates’ experiences of using connections and Chinese sea turtles’ experiences of using connections within the protocols of guanxi.
Sonnenschein, Katrine Biering (2019)
Career Goals of Chinese international Tourism and Hospitality students in Australia
liu, C. & Schänzel, H. (red.). Tourism Education and Asia
Sonnenschein, Katrine Biering; Barker, Michelle & Hibbins, Raymond (2019)
Expectations of returned Chinese graduates and hotel managers regarding entry-level work in the hotel industry in China
Sonnenschein, Katrine Biering; Barker, Michelle & Hibbens, Raymond (2018)
Benefits of work-integrated learning: perceptions held by Chinese international students enrolled in an Australian university and managers in the Chinese hotel industry
“Practical experience is really important.” Perceptions of Chinese international students about the benefits of Work Integrated Learning in their Australian Tourism and Hospitality degrees
Barton, G. & Hartwig, K. (red.). Professional learning in the work place for international students: Exploring theory and practice
Sonnenschein, Katrine Biering; Barker, Michelle & Hibbins, Raymond (2017)
Fit for purpose: Graduate Attributes needed in the Chinese Hotel Industry