International student perceptions of experience in the West

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Robert Buchanan

Purpose The purpose of this exploratory study is an examination of some perceptions of US education, as experienced by foreign MBA students. Design/methodology/approach A longitudinal field study captured perceptions of a group of 51 international students over a one-year interval. The first anticipatory survey was done in India, and the follow-up was made in the USA at the end of a foreign sojourn semester. Inter-item correlations and t-tests were used to examine variance in student perceptions, highlighted by qualitative elements. Findings In general, the students went home, less impressed than they had expected to be in terms of the perceived general quality of the American business education, as well as their abilities to make friends with the local people. Additionally, the observed preparation of the American students for master’s studies was not nearly as high as the foreign students had anticipated. Research limitations/implications Results are not generalizable to broad populations, as the sample was small and localized. Social implications Emerging markets are successfully luring locals and sojourners based on cost and proximity as they achieve greater legitimacy in their institutional credentials. This could challenge the preeminence of Western higher education, especially in light of concerns arising from marketization and rigor. Meanwhile, developed market institutions need to be strategically mindful of their international guests as a resource rather than a commodity. Originality/value Extant internationalization studies tend to focus on administrative viewpoints, whereas this research examines the perspective of international students, which may be indicative of lessening gaps between perceptions of quality of developed and emerging market higher education.

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inga Lapina ◽  
Renāte Roga ◽  
Peeter Müürsepp

Purpose Higher education institutions (HEIs) are becoming more aware of the effects of globalization and of the fact that the need for international work experience, as well as partially or fully acquired education abroad, is increasing. The aim of the research is to analyze factors influencing international students’ decision regarding the country and HEIs and to evaluate students’ learning experience and satisfaction with their choice to develop suggestions for the improvement of different dimensions related to the quality and export of higher education. Design/methodology/approach Several research methods, such as literature review, logical and comparative analysis, as well as the empirical method to obtain information by conducting a survey, and the induction method to interpret and generalize the survey results are applied in this research. To discover learning experiences and determinants of students’ choice of the host country and HEI, research was carried out, under which two questionnaires were developed. The survey involved foreign students from seven HEIs in Latvia and one Estonian university. Findings The environment in which HEIs operate is becoming more open to the increasing international influence and competition and leads to increasing opportunities for international studies and choice available to students. The quality of the academic staff and study programmes are the most important factors in creating value for the student. As a result of the research, suggestions for higher education quality improvement and export development have been structured within economics, culture and quality dimensions into three levels – individual, institutional and state. Research limitations/implications The study does not analyze the foreign students’ countries of origin in terms of political, economic situations or other factors. Upon researching the proportion of foreign students in Latvian HEIs, it was found that most students acquire education in Riga; therefore, regional HEIs have not been included in the survey. Originality/value The results obtained can be used to improve the quality of higher education and encourage the export of higher education by introducing the necessary changes in the areas identified during the research at the state as well as HEI level. The authors also provide an insight into the areas where implementation of changes is necessary to improve the international students’ level of satisfaction and their learning experience.


2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1000-1016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pramila Rao

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the challenges international students face during their higher education in the USA. This research study was conducted at a private university in the Eastern region of the USA from October 2012 through May 2013 (Fall and Spring semesters) with undergraduate and graduate international students. International students for this study are defined as those students who are on an international student visa status (F1). Design/methodology/approach This research adopts an online survey method to understand the challenges international students encounter in a single university. A total of 111 students responded providing a response rate of 33 percent. The results were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. Findings The findings of this study suggest that the primary learning challenges of international students are inadequate writing skills, non-participation, and comprehension abilities. The predominant learning needs are writing academic papers, enhancing class participation, and having local mentors. The students recommend that professors offer detailed feedback, encourage nurturing environments, and provide informal feedback for assignments. The preferred pedagogies are class lectures, class discussions, and individual assignments. Practical implications This study provides implications for both faculty and administrative staff in managing international students better. Originality/value This paper provides a holistic picture of the challenges international students face during their higher education in the USA. Most of the research on this population focuses only on one of the elements addressed in this research. The results of this empirical study will help guide both local faculty and global academic institutions in understanding this student population better.


2019 ◽  
Vol IV (II) ◽  
pp. 83-88
Author(s):  
Rubina Kamran ◽  
Asma Zahoor

Going to the advanced countries for higher education has been in vogue for long. There is a considerable rise in the number of international students in USA universities. This paper explores how Shamsie portrays interaction among international students. It is delimited to the analysis of Shamsies two novels: Salt and Saffron, and Kartoghraphy applying textual analysis as a research method. The insight gained through this research about friendship among international students is in keeping with the findings of the psychological research about three predictable patterns of friendship: friendship with the students of ones own country, friendship with other foreign students and friendship with students of the host country. In Kartoghraphy all three patterns of friendship are found while in Salt and Saffron only a strong bond of friendship between a Pakistani international student and her American counterpart is portrayed. Shamsie presents easy assimilation of Pakistani diaspora students.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 542-565
Author(s):  
Daniel Adrian Doss ◽  
Russ Henley ◽  
Balakrishna Gokaraju ◽  
David McElreath ◽  
Hilliard Lackey ◽  
...  

The authors examined students’ perceptions of plagiarism from a higher education teaching institution within the U.S. southeast. This study employed a five-point Likert-scale to examine differences of perceptions between domestic versus international students. Statistically significant outcomes were observed regarding the notions that plagiarism is a necessary evil and that plagiarism is illegal. Respectively, the analyses of the means showed that respondents tended toward disagreement concerning the former notion and neutrality regarding the latter notion.


Author(s):  
Mai Thi Kim Khanh ◽  
Chau Huy Ngoc

In recent years, internationalization of higher education has become a guiding agenda and a policy both at the Party and Government’s levels, and of which international student recruitment is seen as an important measure which could improve higher education institutions’ international orientation, contribute to reputation and international university rankings. Hence learning from countries which have successfully internationalized their higher educations in order to draw lessons for universities in Vietnam to utilize their existing advantages and remedy shortcomings in internationalization is a necessity. This article serves as an overview of experiences of Asian countries based on studies conducted in China, Taiwan, and Korea, which suggest that languages and distinctive cultural elements could be important factors attracting international students to these Asian destinations. University of Social Sciences and Humanites will then be presented as a Vietnamese higher education institution that could become a destination of foreign students using its distinctive strengths, namely Vietnamese language and Vietnamese Studies programs and cultural exchange activities.


Author(s):  
Enkhbold Enkhbaatar ◽  
Khongorzul Gantumur

Abstract—This study will examine the selection factors and satisfaction of Korean universities with a focus on Mongolian international students. This study examines whether Mongolian international students' university selection factors (International student management system, Residential conditions, Student support system, Educational service quality, University awareness) have a significant effect on university satisfaction. And it examines how university satisfaction affects university choice intention. As a result of the analysis, all of the selection factors have a positive impact on university satisfaction. And university satisfaction showed a positive effect on choice intention. This study is expected to be of great help to the university selection process for foreign students who came to choose Korean universities. For that reason, universities should pay great attention to the quality of educational services and the quality of professors and teachers, and continue to manage the attraction of international students.


Author(s):  
Neera Handa ◽  
Wayne Fallon

This paper reports on findings of evaluative research into student perceptions of a structured academic development workshop, which was specifically designed to induct and orient international students into the academic expectations of their program of study at a university in Australia. With most Australian universities engaged in the business of internationalisation of higher education, there is some debate about the adequacy of practices adopted by these institutions to familiarise their non English-speaking background (NESB) international students with the Australian academic culture. While the practices of some Western universities are sometimes said to be inadequate, there also appears some consternation about international students’ lack of motivation to learn and their inability to master Western academic conventions. Against this backdrop, the paper outlines the impetus for collaboration between the university’s Learning Skills Unit and faculty staff in designing and facilitating a tailored academic development workshop for graduate students. After laying out related literature and details of the workshop, there is discussion of the data collection methods, and an analysis of the data from students. The paper makes a call for repeat workshops at the beginning of every semester, as an indispensable component of the overall content delivery strategies in the faculty’s graduate program. The paper concludes by contemplating the educational integrity inherent in program and faculty staff development initiatives, which are focused on addressing the academic and cultural proclivities of an international student cohort.


Author(s):  
Donna M. Velliaris ◽  
Craig R. Willis ◽  
Janine M. Pierce

To attract a growing number of international students, Higher Education (HE) institutions are striving to differentiate themselves from their competitors. The Eynesbury Institute of Business and Technology (EIBT) is part of a growing number of private providers partnering with universities to establish “pathway” programs. EIBT offers a Diploma of Business leading to either The University of Adelaide or the University of South Australia's degree programs in business-related fields. This chapter investigates EIBT students' own perceptions of “ethics” in a major assessment task embedded in a course titled “Business and Society”. The findings, taken from students' reflective papers, reveal their understanding(s) of ethical behaviour and are particularly relevant to contemporary debates surrounding how to improve educational attainment and ethical standards given the emerging importance of partner providers amidst rising numbers of international students seeking HE in Australia and abroad.10.4018/978-1-4666-7244-4.ch012


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Charlotte Foster ◽  
Amrita Bhandari

Jef Davis' book Intercultural Sensitivity in Foreign Student Advising could be helpful to international student advisors and other professionals in two ways. First, it may help advisors understand the issues and concerns of international students who bring their diverse social and cultural backgrounds to American institutions of higher education. After the 9/11 attack in 2001, it was assumed that foreign students perceived social and cultural bias because of their nationality, religion, gender, or language. Following the 9/11 attacks, American colleges and universities did seem to experience significant changes in monitoring and regulating international student visas and the student exchange visitor information system (SEVIS).


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-77
Author(s):  
Krishna Bista

Catherine Montgomery has depicted a clear picture of how international students encounter both social and cultural, academic differences and learn positively as a result of crosscultural experiences while studying as abroad sojourns in her book, Understanding the International Student Experience. She has established a strong relationship with foreign students who pursue higher education overseas with home cultures, languages, and learning backgrounds.


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