scholarly journals A qualitative study of undergraduate international students' everyday experiences with cross-cultural interactions and the student adjustment process

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Wilkinson Burkhardt
2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Burkhardt ◽  
Elisabeth E. Bennett

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand how everyday cross-cultural interactions affected the adjustment of undergraduate international students attending a private university in the northeastern United States of America. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected primarily through interviews with nine international students and observations at “Eastern University”. Students were purposively selected to balance gender and world regions. Analysis used constant comparison until findings emerged, which were member-checked with study participants (Merriam, 2009). Findings – Findings show that the impact of university diversity initiatives for promoting everyday cross-cultural interactions is described as creating an us/them divide, promoting solidarity and establishing a cultural presence. It is concluded that formal university events foster recognition of the campus diversity international students help provide, but their impact on everyday cross-cultural interactions is both positive and negative. Additionally, the mode by which undergraduate international students are introduced to their US campus affects their integration and future interaction patterns. Research limitations/implications – Further research is needed to explore higher education institutions (HEIs)’ connection to human resource development (HRD) for shaping the future global arena. Studies that address the continuum from higher education to the workforce are needed to prepare the next generation of professionals for a global world. This study is limited due to small sample size. Findings are not generalizable in a statistical sense, but HRD professionals in HEIs may compare the details in this study with their own institutions. Originality/value – This study contributes to the discussion of national HRD by addressing international students and their insights into how diversity programs impact adjustment in an American setting. Additionally, organizational and faculty development initiatives in academic institutions can be improved by understanding the insights found in this study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 17-25
Author(s):  

International students’ enrolment in higher education in Malaysia has expanded widely in scope, volume, and complexity, giving rise to a myriad of challenges and difficulties in their adjustment process, which have to be understood and addressed. In this study, the cross-cultural factors that influence psychological, sociocultural, and self-realization adjustments amongst international students studying in Malaysian public universities were examined. The purpose of this research was to gauge a better understanding of the difficulties and challenges encountered by them when pursuing higher education opportunities in Malaysian public universities, and how they had managed to overcome the necessary adjustments. A research survey based on 31item questionnaires was formulated. Stratified random sampling methodology was adopted in the distribution of 250 questionnaires, with a total of 218 responses received. Data were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences’ software. The variables, socio-cultural adjustment, and self-realization adjustment showed negative correlations towards their adjustment process. The outcomes should enable university faculties and staff to recognize foreign students’ needs, and effectively offer supportive campus resources and services to assist them in their adjustment process.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
CindyAnn Rose-Redwood ◽  
Reuben Rose-Redwood

In this article, we consider the ways in which both formal and informal social practices at colleges and universities can lead domestic and international students to engage in meaningful cross-cultural interactions. Employing a narrative-based approach, we reflect upon our own personal experiences as domestic students who developed close friendships with international students at two higher education institutions in the United States at the turn of the twenty-first century. In one case, an internationalfriendship  grew from a formal, university-sponsored conversation partner program organized by the university’s international office, and, in the other case, a close friendship with an international student emerged through informal social interactions on a college campus. Taken together, these cases suggest that higher education settings have the potential to be spaces of meaningful cross-cultural interaction. However, this requires an active commitment on the part of both domestic and international students to engage in social interactions across the international divide.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-38
Author(s):  
Bibi Noraini Mohd Yusuf ◽  

International students’ enrolment in higher education in Malaysia has expanded widely in scope, volume, and complexity, giving rise to a myriad of challenges and difficulties in their adjustment process, which have to be understood and addressed. In this study, the cross-cultural factors that influence psychological, socio-cultural, and self-realization adjustments amongst international students studying in Malaysian public universities were examined. The purpose of this research was to gauge a better understanding of the difficulties and challenges encountered by them when pursuing higher education opportunities in Malaysian public universities, and how they had managed to overcome the necessary adjustments. A research survey based on 31-item questionnaires was formulated. Stratified random sampling methodology was adopted in the distribution of 250 questionnaires, with a total of 218 responses received. Data were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences’ software. The variables, socio-cultural adjustment, and self-realization adjustment showed negative correlations towards their adjustment process. The outcomes should enable university faculties and staff to recognize foreign students’ needs, and effectively offer supportive campus resources and services to assist them in their adjustment process.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Christmas Warastiko ◽  
Sapti H. Widiyarti

ABSTRAK Indonesia dikenal dengan negara yang memiliki beragam suku, budaya, dan bahasa. Pada tahun 2010, data jumlah penduduk Indonesia yang paling terakhir menyatakan jumlah penduduk Indonesia sebesar 237,56 juta jiwa dengan 85.1% nya beragama Islam dan 288.405 penduduknya berprofesi sebagai seorang perawat. Pemahaman perawat tentang keperawatan transkultural saat ini sangatlah dibutuhkan. Agama, salah satu dari tujuh faktor yang menurut Leininger memiliki andil besar dalam mempengaruhi perilaku dan sikap para perawat maupun para klien. Simanjuntak (2011) berdasarkan studi kualitatif mengutarakan 13 karakteristik yang perlu di validasi sebagai karakteristik dari perawat Islam saat melakukan perawatan kepada klien. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk memvalidasi butir-butir gambaran identitas profesional perawat Islam Indonesia melalui rancang bangun dari lembar kaji. Desain dalam penelitian ini adalah validasi kuesioner terhadap faktor rancang bangun, dimensi dan construct validity. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan melakukan pilot study terlebih dahulu di Rumah Sakit Cibabat dan Rumah Sakit Imanuel dengan kemudian meminta responden untuk mengisi kuesioner serta memberikan komentar terhadap setiap butir-butir pernyataan, Data aktual berasal dari Rumah Sakit Santosa Bandung, Rumah Sakit Meilia Cibubur, dan Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Koja Jakarta dengan cara meminta responden untuk mengisi kuesioner. Sampel dipilih dengan menggunakan metode snowballing kepada perawat Islam Indonesia yang bekerja di Bandung dan Jakarta. Data dianalisa dengan Cronbach α, didapatkan hasil pada uji validitas terhadap 13 karakteristik identitas profesional perawat Islam Indonesia masing-masing memiliki nilai Cronbach α >0,70. Hasil penelitian ini menyarankan agar perawat Islam Indonesia dapat menjadi perawat yang profesional dalam mengkaji diri agar dapat menuju keperawatan lintas budaya yang berkompetensi.   Kata Kunci: Validasi, Identitas Profesional, Perawat Islam Indonesia.   ABSTRACT Indonesia is known as a country with diverse in ethnic, cultural, and dialect. The population of Indonesian as declared in 2010 is 237.56 million, with 85.1% of them are Muslims and 288.405 people work as nurses. Religion is one of the seven factors that according Leininger determined the behavior and attitudes of nurses and clients. Therefore, understanding of transcultural nursing is imperatively necessary. In a qualitative study, Simanjuntak (2011) states 13 characteristics of Indonesian Islam nurse professional identity need to be validated. This study conducted to validate the grains picture of Indonesian Islam nurses professional identity through the design of identity assessment tool. This study validates the identity assessment tool, its design, dimensions and the construct validity. Pilot study was done in the Cibabat Hospital and Immanuel Hospital, and the actual data were collected from Santosa Bandung Hospital, Meilia Cibubur Hospital, and the Koja General Hospital in Jakarta. Samples were selected using snow-ball method among Islam nurses who work in Bandung and Jakarta. The result obtained on the validity of the 13 characteristics of professional identity of Indonesian Islam professional nurses with the value of Cronbach α> 0.70. The results of this study suggest that Indonesian Islam nurses can become a professional nurse in assessing themselves in order to lead a cross-cultural nursing competence. Keywords: Validation, Professional Identity, Indonesian Islam Nurses.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yicong Liu

BACKGROUND The transition from China to the UK can be challenging, and there is increasing concern among academics since cross-cultural learning and living may be a challenge for these students. OBJECTIVE To find out international pharmacy students’ worries and challenges as well as benefits on the transition experience from China to the UK. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were used to explore this group of students’ transition experiences. Selective transcription was done because of time limitations in the project. RESULTS The natural and cultural environment was the most pleasant experience for Tianjin students during this transition process. Cross-cultural adjustment and self-adaptability, as well as their autonomous learning ability were the main barriers for international students. CONCLUSIONS The difference between Asian and Western culture caused barriers for international students to fit into a new environment. In terms of integrating into local students, insufficient English language skills, culture shock and personality could be the influence factors. Moreover, the different teaching style and learning style could be the possible reasons for students having difficulty in an independent study. CLINICALTRIAL N/A


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