scholarly journals International Students’ Experiences at a Saudi University and Academic Leaders’ Perceptions Regarding Them

Societies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Yousef Mubrik N. Almutairi

This qualitative study addresses international students’ experiences at a Saudi university to gain insight into the challenges these students encounter during their studies. The study also explores academic leaders’ perceptions in supporting international students. The guiding theories behind this study include culture shock and socialization. I conducted interviews with 16 international students and 10 academic leaders at a university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to gain an understanding of their perspectives. The findings were then analyzed for common trends. The interviews showed that some students experienced greater culture shock than others, including language barriers, when coming from non-Arab countries, and women faced more challenges than men. Meanwhile, the academic leaders and faculty in this study appeared to understand international students’ experiences. Despite the rise in international students attending Saudi universities on full scholarships, limited research has considered this unique student population. This study addresses this gap and discusses future directions. This paper discusses implications for higher-education personnel and international students. The paper recommends providing sufficient material to allow students to prepare for culture shock before coming to Saudi Arabia and making professors and personnel more available to students for support.

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1278-1292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huong Le ◽  
Jade McKay

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the voice of Chinese and Vietnamese international students through studying the similarities and differences in their learning experiences and the reasons underlying their experience. Design/methodology/approach In total, 57 Chinese and Vietnamese international students participated in focus groups and interviews regarding their experiences of higher education and their suggestions for improvement. Findings The findings show that Chinese and Vietnamese students had varying levels of challenges and different progress in the adaptation process and that Chinese students were more vocal and less satisfied with their experience of higher education than Vietnamese students. This is due to the mismatch in their expectation and the actual experience and the cultural influence. Research limitations/implications The sample size is relatively small. This study only looked at Vietnamese and Chinese students in one university, which might have limitations in relation to subjectivity and bias. Practical implications The findings provide useful implications for educators, institutional leaders and support staff to improve facilities, teaching quality and service to students. Originality/value In the current era of internationalisation, commercialisation and mobility in institutions around the world, this study advances current research and provides timely insight into the experiential differences of the Chinese and Vietnamese student experience and their voice.


Author(s):  
Halla El- Ziber El- Siddeg

The present study aims: sought to research in the indicators of gender parity in higher education for Bachelor degree of public universities in Saudi Arabia. Its importance was that it seeks to provide a database of indicators of sustainable development in general and the equivalence index in particular, and the localization of sustainable development goals within the vision of the Kingdom 2030, in addition to know the differences between universities in terms of the equivalence index. The researcher used a descriptive analytical method. The research came out with several results, most notably: The gender parity index in most higher education in public universities in the baccalaureate stage according to statistics, was in favor of females in the years: 2016، 2017، 2018. The inequality index over the three years 2016، 2017، 2018 was favored by females in the north, and south of Saudi Arabia. It also made a number of recommendations, including: Increase the number of studies and researches concerned with higher education in public universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (undergraduate).


Author(s):  
Michael Crock ◽  
Janet Baker ◽  
Skye Turner-Walker

This chapter analyses the history of, and future directions for, higher education studies undertaken through Open Universities Australia (OUA), Australia’s unique higher education conduit. Founded to provide open access to units that allow individuals to undertake individual units or achieve qualifications from leading Australian universities, and supported by a federal government student loans scheme, OUA’s experience and future plans provide significant insight into the potential and pitfalls of the technological innovation in both higher education distance, and increasingly, on-campus, teaching and learning. The need for an ongoing emphasis on innovation, adaptability, and cooperation in an extraordinarily rapidly changing environment is highlighted.


2015 ◽  
pp. 320-335
Author(s):  
Michael Crock ◽  
Janet Baker ◽  
Skye Turner-Walker

This chapter analyses the history of, and future directions for, higher education studies undertaken through Open Universities Australia (OUA), Australia's unique higher education conduit. Founded to provide open access to units that allow individuals to undertake individual units or achieve qualifications from leading Australian universities, and supported by a federal government student loans scheme, OUA's experience and future plans provide significant insight into the potential and pitfalls of the technological innovation in both higher education distance, and increasingly, on-campus, teaching and learning. The need for an ongoing emphasis on innovation, adaptability, and cooperation in an extraordinarily rapidly changing environment is highlighted.


SAGE Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824401989905
Author(s):  
Zafrul Allam

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors of quality in higher education in the eyes of stakeholders in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A total of 151 respondents were taken for this scientific research. Biographical Information Blank and Quality in Higher Education questionnaires were administered to the respondents to explore prevailing factors in higher education to maintain the realm of quality. Through factor analysis, the investigation revealed six factors that the stakeholders perceived as contributory factors existing in terms of quality in the higher education. It is suggested that leaders and policymakers of higher education in the Kingdom must focus on six factors obtained in the current investigation to enhance the effectiveness of quality in the higher education.


Author(s):  
Vishanth Weerakkody

Utilizing a survey approach, this research set out to explore the reasons for the slow progress in broadband adoption and investigates the factors that may be affecting the adoption of broadband by KSA consumers. Particular emphasis was placed on individual-level factors such as social and cultural influences. The key findings were that the factors with the main influence on attitude towards adoption of broadband were: (1) usefulness, (2) service quality, (3) age, (4) usage, (5) type of connection, and (6) type of accommodation. Contrary to prediction, although socio-cultural factors such as regulation through filtration of broadband were found to have no significant influence on the adoption of broadband, consumers were aware and largely did not like the regulation. The chapter also provides a discussion on research implications, limitations, and future directions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. p1
Author(s):  
Somaia Osman Mohamed Abdelgadir ◽  
Ahmed Osman Ibrahim Ahmed

Objective: The tremendous growth in the preparation of higher education institutions for management – marketing, has resulted in the need for and necessity to discuss the quality of that education. From here, the aim of this research was to determine the factors that affect the quality of management education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to clarify its nature and importance, and the mutual effects on the quality of learning outcomes for marketing education at the individual student and program level, and at the level of the educational institution and its competitiveness. Design / Methodology: The determination of the factors affecting the quality of management education through a review of the literature and then testing its validity and its effects on the quality of marketing education outcomes at the individual, program, and institution level through practical study using survey lists for the teaching courses of government and private universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Findings: The studies showed that almost all of the factors studied are highly reliable among themselves, and that they must be seen as coherent, when analyzing their impact on the learning outcomes of marketing education. Applications: The study provided guidance for, administrators, curriculum and course designers, and marketing teachers, to design high-quality marketing-management education programs, and in developing a self-diagnostic tool in which universities can determine their susceptibility to success and competition. Rooting / value: the current literature has shed light on the factors affecting the quality of management education. However, it was taken separately. Therefore, the research contributes to the existing literature by identifying the interrelationships between these factors, which have a role in improving the quality of marketing education.


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