scholarly journals Building Bridges Across the International Divide: Fostering Meaningful Cross-Cultural Interactions Between Domestic and International Students

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
CindyAnn Rose-Redwood ◽  
Reuben Rose-Redwood
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
International Student ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
First Century ◽  
Domestic Students ◽  
Conversation Partner ◽  
Cultural Interactions

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.

scholarly journals International Student Transitions

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sharif Uddin
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
United States ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
International Students ◽  
International Student ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The United States ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The U.S

Andrade and James Hartshorn (2019) surrounds the transition that international students encounter when they attend universities in developed countries in pursuit of higher education. Andrade and James Hartshorn (2019) describe how some countries like Australia and the United Kingdom host more international students than the United States (U.S.) and provides some guidelines for the U.S. higher education institutions to follow to host more international students. This book contains seven chapters.

Shaping the future of a globalized world

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 162-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Burkhardt ◽  
Elisabeth E. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cultural Interactions

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.

scholarly journals Navigating the First Year: Transition and Adjustment Experiences of International Students of Color at a Predominantly White Institution

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina W. Yao ◽  
Jennifer N. Rutt ◽  
Kaleb Briscoe ◽  
Alexandra Kirshenbaum ◽  
Matthew W. Knight ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Students Of Color ◽  
International Student ◽  
Student Mobility ◽  
The United States ◽  
First Year ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Predominantly White Institution ◽  
White Institution

International student mobility has been a highly discussed topic in higher education in the United States (U.S.). Yet current geo-political issues necessitate a re-examination of how international students, especially those who would be considered students of Color, are transitioning to U.S. higher education institutions. Findings from three interviews that spanned participants’ first year on campus include the importance of social interactions, challenges with academic adjustments, and navigating the effects of politics. Suggestions for student affairs practice are addressed, including pre-sojourn connections and peer engagement.

Intercultural Programming without Intercultural Competence

2016 ◽  
pp. 143-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Spitzman
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Competence Development ◽  
Domestic Students ◽  
Culture Learning ◽  
Specific Nature ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Conversation Partner

While there are many studies pointing to the need for international students to interact with domestic students for language and culture learning, there are very few studies exploring these interactions across cultures and how to best facilitate them. The author of this chapter provides an overview of the literature on intercultural competence development in higher education, and then explains a research study exploring a Conversation Partner Program, pairing international and domestic students together for weekly conversations. Through analysis of interviews and conversations between partners, it became clear that intercultural competence was not likely to develop between the partners. Unique to this study are the discursive features of this lack of intercultural competence as well as the situated, relational and discourse-specific nature of the exploration of interaction.

scholarly journals More than learning English? The impact of university intensive English language program attendance on international student academic achievement

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 43
Author(s):  
Adam T. Clark ◽  
Dianna Lippincott ◽  
Jeongeun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Academic Achievement ◽  
International Students ◽  
Higher Education Policy ◽  
International Student ◽  
English Language ◽  
The United States ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Intensive English ◽  
The Impact

This study frames intensive English language programs (IEPs) in institutions of higher education as potential vehicles for social justice among marginalized international students. In this study we examine the differences in academic achievement between international students who enter a university through an English proficiency test and those who pass through an IEP. We compared both populations through nearly 900 cases, out of a sample of 4888, who had similar language proficiency at the time of enrolling at a large research-intensive university in the Southwest of the United States. The results revealed great similarity between the populations of students indicating that as an intervention-style program, the IEP was successful in meeting the linguistic and academic needs of the students. The study also revealed potential implications for higher education policy in ensuring both program quality and benefit to students. The paper also raises issues of equity in terms of the lack of analysis in long-term outcomes for these types of programs compared to other interventions, the need for expansion of international student data collection by institutions of higher education and overall transparency in pre-university programs.

scholarly journals Interest Convergence and the Commodification of International Students and Scholars in the United States

JCSCORE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-109
Author(s):  
Christina W. Yao ◽  
Tiffany Viggiano
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
United States ◽  
International Students ◽  
International Education ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
International Student ◽  
The United States ◽  
Interest Convergence ◽  
Official Statement ◽  
And Migration

International students and scholars in the United States (U.S.) have often been excluded from conversations about race, ethnicity, and migration within U.S. contexts. However, with the issuance of what is commonly known as the Travel Bans, fears emerged from the international education community of the Travel Bans affecting international student recruitment and enrollment. In this study, we highlight the ways in which an official statement from leaders of international higher education organizations employ interest convergence arguments, followed by a discussion of the ways in which convergence in this case is employed as a tool to garner U.S. soft power. The examination of a brief of amicus curiae submitted by the American Council on Education and 32 additional higher education associations revealed the commodification of international students and scholars when using interest convergence as an analytical frame for examining the soft power (Nye, 2008). International students and scholars contribute to U.S. soft power as a means of garnering diversity, contributing to foreign policy, producing knowledge, and generating economic gains.

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.

scholarly journals International Student Engagement: Strategies for Creating Inclusive, Connected, and Purposeful Campus Environments

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 1076-1078
Author(s):  
Clyde Barnett III
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
International Student ◽  
The United States ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
Education Student ◽  
Engagement Strategies ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Research Findings

International Student Engagement: Strategies for Creating Inclusive, Connected, and Purposeful Campus Environments is an in-depth analysis of seven colleges and universities across the United States, examining unique programs and activities for international students that foster belonging and connectedness on campus. This book provides a snapshot into the ways institutions effectively engage with international students. The authors examine the effectiveness of programs and policies intended to assist international students through research findings and by examining first-hand student experiences. For higher education/student affairs professionals, this book is an excellent resource to help move higher education institutions forward and into a space that promotes inclusivity.

scholarly journals Effect of Support from Lecturers and Host Country Nationals on Cross-Cultural Adjustment among International Students: Evidence from a Malaysian University

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hak Liong Chan ◽  
Abdul Rahman Yaakob ◽  
Saizal Pinjaman
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Host Country ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
International Student ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Cultural Adjustment ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Three Dimensions

Pursuing higher education abroad is a golden opportunity for any student’s personal development; however, international students’ cross-cultural adjustment (CCA) can be onerous in a foreign country. The purpose of this study is to empirically examine the roles of perceived lecturer support and host country national (HCN) support in international students’ CCA in three dimensions, i.e. general, academic, and interaction. Adopting the purposive sampling technique, survey data was collected from a sample of 124 first-year international students in a Malaysian university. The results of the partial least squares structural equation modelling analysis showed that both perceived lecturer support and HCN support are influential in international students’ general, academic, and interaction adjustment. These findings suggest that higher education institutions should amplify the role of lecturers and HCNs to help international students adjust to the various cultural aspects in Malaysia. This study contributes to the literature by applying the anxiety and uncertainty management theory to validate the influence of support on CCA in the international student context.

scholarly journals Reconceptualizing Student Engagement

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dina Ghazzawi ◽  
Lyle McKinney ◽  
Catherine Horn ◽  
Andrea Backsheider Burridge ◽  
Vincent Carales
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Community College ◽  
Community Colleges ◽  
International Students ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
International Student ◽  
The United States ◽  
Student Experiences ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Relevant Variables

International students in the United States have been increasingly attracted to community colleges as a starting point to higher education. Recently, their enrollment has been dropping. Research highlights the importance of student engagement to international students. However, few studies investigate their engagement experiences in community colleges. This study investigated the validity of the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) benchmarks as proxies for international student engagement in community colleges. The original CCSSE benchmarks were a poor fit for international students. Resulting constructs and underlying items differed significantly from the original benchmarks and demonstrated poor reliability. Findings highlight the inapplicability of CCSSE benchmarks in representing international student engagement. Recommendations include adding culturally relevant variables to the CCSSE structure more applicable to international student populations, and accompanying the survey with qualitative input for in-depth knowledge of international student experiences.

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