scholarly journals The Buddy Programme - Integration and social support for international students

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (Winter) ◽  
pp. 36-43
Author(s):  
Per A. Nilsson
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
International Students ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Social Life ◽  
International Student ◽  
Strong Influence ◽  
Domestic Students ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Using Data

Students studying abroad must adjust to a new culture and adapt to new surroundings different from home, and to other challenging life events during their sojourn in a foreign country. Previous research has shown that social life outside academic studies has a strong influence on one’s academic integration. This paper describes a buddy programme, operated by Umeå University (Sweden), which aims at the integration of international students through social support. The programme has been running for approximately 20 years, and over time its content and qualities have been improved. It has developed through a bottom-up approach, learning from the experiences of participating students, and has slowly developed into what it is today. Using data from the International Student Barometer, in this paper I show that the programme is highly appreciated and is an important part of international students’ life and experience in Umeå. However, the results also indicate variability across different dimensions of integration: there seems to be more success in integrating international students in social activities within the programme, whereas integration with domestic students proves to be somewhat more difficult.

scholarly journals Effects of Social and Organizational Support on the Satisfaction of International Students and Career Commitment

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 442-448
Author(s):  
Sang-Woo Hahm
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
International Students ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Perceived Organizational Support ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Career Commitment ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
The Impact

Perceived organizational support and perceived social support affect individual performance. Their influence may or may not be the same depending on the situation. This study describes the different effects of perceived organizational support and perceived social support on organizational satisfaction and social life satisfaction. Furthermore, it proves that perceived organizational support and perceived social support enhance the organizational (school) satisfaction and social life (life of studying abroad) satisfaction of international students. On addition, through this process, they also increase the career commitment of students. This paper identifies the importance of perceived organizational support and perceived social support necessary to improve the international students' performance, and explain the impact and relevance of their different satisfactions. Through this, this article proposes ways to improve the performance of international students and the discriminatory relevance of perceptions of different objects.

scholarly journals Developing a framework for international students’ rationales for studying abroad, beyond economic factors

2020 ◽  
pp. 147821032096506
Author(s):  
Omolabake Fakunle
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
International Student ◽  
Student Mobility ◽  
Transformative Experience ◽  
Critical Question ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
Instrumental Values ◽  
Capital Development

Underpinned by neoliberalism and spurred by growing international student mobility (ISM), global trends and policymaking on internationalisation are geared towards the maximisation of efforts by countries and institutions to recruit fee-paying international students. For international students, previous studies on their decision-making processes and motivations for studying abroad emphasise the benefit of acquiring a quality education and employability, tending to human capital development. The dominant framing of internationalisation around economic imperatives, which has been criticised by several scholars, limits our understanding of non-economic dimensions of ISM. A review of Sen’s capability approach encompassing both intrinsic and instrumental values supports the framework presented in this article. The framework, illustrated by qualitative data, captures how international students’ rationales for studying abroad include the following four dimensions: educational; experiential; aspirational; and economic. This article raises a critical question about how an internationalisation policy that does not represent a broad range of students’ rationales for studying abroad can be expected to provide a transformative experience for students. The concluding section details recommendations for a re-imagining of policy towards enhancing the international student experience. It briefly points to the timeliness of the proposed framework in the light the possible impact of Covid-19 on the future of ISM.

scholarly journals International Student Mobility in the United States

2015 ◽  
pp. 13-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Farrugia ◽  
Ashley Villarreal
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
International Student ◽  
Student Mobility ◽  
The United States ◽  
University Campus ◽  
International Educational Exchange ◽  
The Past ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
Mobile Students ◽  
The U.S

The number of globally mobile students has nearly doubled over the past ten years, from 2.1 million students in 2001 to 4.1 million students in 2011. According to Open Doors 2012: Report on International Educational Exchange, the U.S. hosted 764,795 international students in 2011/12, an increase of 3.7 percent from the previous year. International students in the U.S. now make up 19 percent of the world's globally mobile students, and as university campus enrollments grow, so does the proportion of students enrolling in them from abroad. The number of U.S. students studying abroad reached 273,996 in 2010/11, an increase of 1.3 percent over the prior year and an increase of 78 percent over the past ten years.

scholarly journals A study of the adjustment experiences of Indian international students in New Zealand universities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Johnson Kukatlapalli
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
International Students ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
International Student ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Indian Students

<p>A review of literature on the experiences of international students reveals their mostly adverse experiences in academic and social lives during their stay in a host country. At the same time, despite facing challenging experiences, international student numbers are rapidly increasing worldwide every year. Moreover, studies in general find that the facilities and services provided by the concerned educational providers are not being utilized by the international students as intended. Within this context, it may be mentioned that although Indian students have been coming to New Zealand for studies since 1951 as a result of the popular Colombo plan, there is no exclusive study on them, although we have such studies on the Chinese and Vietnamese international students.  The absence of such a study prevents us from recognising the specific requirements or identifying the unique features of their experiences of adjustment to the new academic and social environment. A few studies on Indian students in other countries have identified some of their difficulties while adjusting to the conditions of host countries. Furthermore, the current statistics of international students in higher education sector worldwide reveal that India is one of the top source countries for international student migration at present and for the future. In New Zealand context, even though India is being considered as an important source country for international students in the university sector, the statistics indicate that the majority of Indian international students are not enrolled in universities. All these reasons indicate the need for a specific study on Indian international students and thus, this study was initiated to explore the adjustment experiences of Indian international students studying in eight universities in New Zealand, focussing on their language, academic and social life experiences.  A mixed methods research approach was employed in this study. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data in the initial quantitative phase, and in the later phase, interviews were conducted for qualitative data collection. Both male and female Indian international students participated in this study. They were studying undergraduate or postgraduate courses at different universities in New Zealand, and belonged to different age groups and religions. Most of them have been studying outside India for the first time in their lives.  The findings of this study revealed that Indian students have adequate levels of language proficiency; they adjusted well to their academic life; enjoyed their learning experiences in New Zealand; and minimised their psychological issues through utilising social media facilities. These findings differ from those of the other generic research on Asian students. But apart from these positive aspects, the findings also point to a few concerns about their initial adjustment to a new academic system and new social environment in New Zealand, arising from a lack of proper understanding and information. This study therefore suggests a model for better cross-cultural understanding of both the prospective students and the universities as a possible means to minimize the initial difficulties of these students.</p>

scholarly journals Transnational Education: Looking at Out- and Inflow of International Student Migration

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-59
Author(s):  
Ika Sandra
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
International Student ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Student Migration ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
Global Trend ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Ethnographic Analysis ◽  
Study Overseas

The interest of students from various countries to study overseas have been increasing lately, resulting in a global trend. Their reasons could be different from one another. This study analysed student migration using different models and theories. Through qualitative research, using literary and ethnographic analysis along with transnational perspectives, this project analyzed the reasons behind student’s migration. The finding indicates that different theories and approaches show different reasons why the students migrate. Push-pull factor theory shows that factors from the home country and the host country can count as reasons for why students study abroad. World system theory shows how economically, politically, and socially powerful countries play an important role in attracting international students. The demand and supply models are related to the middle class who are eager to gain cultural and social capital through studying abroad. Finally, the global space approach has three poles to look at international student flows; one of which is the Pacific pole where English-speaking countries become popular destinations particularly among international students from Asian countries. This article suggests that if host countries want to market their education comprehensively, the host countries should give more space and easy access for the home countries of the outflows of student migration.

How to overcome challenges related to English and academic writing skills when studying abroad

MedPharmRes ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 3-5
Author(s):  
Cuong Duong
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
International Student ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Medical Doctor ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
Learning Journey ◽  
Making Friends ◽  
The University

Nowadays, pursuing postgraduate study abroad after completing a Medical Doctor (MD) degree in their home country is common among Vietnamese doctors. There are several challenges in studying overseas that international students need to overcome to ensure a favorable outcome of their learning journey. The presenting paper mainly discussed about the challenges related to English and academic writing skills and aimed to provide some tips for studying effectively in developed countries. Based on his own experiences as a postgraduate international student in Australia, the author found that a successful learning journey could be facilitated by (1) feeling free to ask, (2) making friends with the locals and other international students, (3) exploring the local life, (4) learning and using a reference management software, and (5) attending all free academic skills workshops and consultations provided by the university.

scholarly journals Do Study Abroad Programs Enhance the Employability of Graduates?

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Di Pietro
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Instrumental Variable ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
International Student ◽  
Study Abroad Programs ◽  
Large Sample ◽  
Instrumental Variable Estimation ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

Using data on a large sample of recent Italian graduates, this paper investigates the extent to which participation in study abroad programs during university studies impacts subsequent employment likelihood. To address the problem of endogeneity related to participation in study abroad programs, I use a combination of fixed effects and instrumental variable estimation where the instrumental variable is exposure to international student exchange schemes. My estimates show that studying abroad has a relatively large and statistically meaningful effect on the probability of being in employment three years after graduation. This effect is mainly driven by the impact that study abroad programs have on the employment prospects of graduates from disadvantaged (but not very disadvantaged) backgrounds, though positive but imprecise effects are also found for graduates from advantaged backgrounds.

scholarly journals Predictors of Resilience among Indonesian Students in Malaysian Universities

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Khairina Khairina ◽  
Samsilah Roslan ◽  
Noorlila Ahmad ◽  
Zeinab Zaremohzzabieh ◽  
Nurazidawati Mohamad Arsad
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Social Support ◽  
International Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
Internationalization In Higher Education ◽  
Adjustment Issues ◽  
The Impact

The benefits of internationalization in higher education are indisputable. However, students studying abroad may face difficulties such as adjustment issues since they are away from home and go through a new stage in their lives. Seeing that an essential predictor of psychological adjustment is resilience, the current study aims to assess the role of a range of factors (optimism, social support, self-efficacy, psychological well-being, and demographic) in predicting the resilience of Indonesian students in Malaysia. Two hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to test the influencing factors on resilience. Based on the literature, this study is quantitative in nature where a total of 229 Indonesian postgraduate students in Malaysian public universities were chosen as participants. Results showed that resilience is affected by optimism, social support, and self-efficacy. Essentially, this study provides practical insights into how international students can make adjustments to reduce the impact of stress faced in challenging situations.  Keywords: adjustment, higher education, international students, Malaysia, resilience

scholarly journals International Student Engagement: An Exploration of Student and Faculty Perceptions

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 1002-1033
Author(s):  
Rong Wang ◽  
Allison BrckaLorenz
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
International Student ◽  
Faculty Perceptions ◽  
Faculty Interaction ◽  
Faculty Survey ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Four Year Institutions

An increasing number of faculty have brought up questions and concerns comparative studyabout supporting international students’ academic engagement and success. However, little is known about faculty’s approaches to international student engagement and how they may differ from international students’ selfreported engagement at four-year institutions. Using data from the National Survey of Student Engagement and Faculty Survey of Student Engagement, both large-scale and multi-institutional datasets, this study explores international student engagement in learning strategies, collaborative learning, and student-faculty interaction as well as international student engagement from the perspectives of faculty and students. Recommendations on supporting international student engagement from an individual faculty level, department level, and institutional level are discussed.

scholarly journals Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Mental and Emotional Well-being among International Students in the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-82
Author(s):  
Mehrete Girmay ◽  
Gopal K. Singh
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
International Students ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
International Student ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Domestic Students ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Background: Loneliness and social isolation have the ability to affect an individual's mental and physical health. With research linking both to morbidity and premature mortality, their effects must be viewed as important public health problems. Loneliness and social isolation can be especially pronounced in the international student community, particularly at the university level, as this population encounters challenges assimilating to their host university, surrounding community, and host country. This study explores the risks and sociocultural factors associated with loneliness, social isolation, and psychological distress with regards to the overall adjustment of international students. Methods: In this qualitative, narrative case study, 10 international graduate students at a university in the United States participated in two focus group sessions followed by individual interviews. Thematic areas and topics were identified using Barrer's three models of social support. Study was completed between December 2016 and September 2017. Results: All of the participants shared that they had experienced loneliness and social isolation at some point during their acculturative process resulting in perceived xenophobia and a sense of insincerity on behalf of domestic students when attempting to forge connections. For some, these experiences elicited feelings of depression, a disinterest in building connections with domestic students, and in attending social events held on campus and within the community, further exacerbating feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Conclusions and Implications for Translation: Results shed light on the impact that poor acculturation can have on the student's mental and physical health and how bridges between the international and non-international communities can be built and more importantly, sustained. There is a critical need for more effort to be focused on attending to both the mental and physical health needs of migrant students during their stay at the host university. Key words: • Acculturation • Social Isolation • Loneliness • Mental Health • International •  Student   Copyright © 2019 Girmay and Singh. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Com- mons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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