A ‘‘research’’ into international student-related research: (Re)Visualising our stand? (original) (raw)

International Students in Western Developed Countries: History, Challenges, and Prospects

Journal of International Students

Many scholars have described the various challenges international students face in Western developed countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Some of the challenges include differences in culture, language barriers, adjustment problems, medical concerns, pedagogical challenges, housing issues, lack of support services, and financial difficulty. This paper explores some challenges of international students and implicates the need for host universities to provide more resources and support services towards meeting international students’ academic and social needs. Aside from exploring the challenges, conflicts, and contradictions to the international student experience, and their implications to academic performance, the paper presents recommendations and suggestions to host universities on how to meet international students’ varying academic and social needs.

The Journey and Experience of International students: An insight from a UK University

Journal of Economic Science, 2019

International students contribute circa 25.8 billion in gross output for the UK economy (Universities UK, 2017). The new UK government Strategy in March (2019) is to cement Britain’s leading role in the global market by increasing the number of international students studying in the UK by more than 30% – helping boost the income generated by education exports to £35 billion (UK Government, 2019). Therefore, the main aim of this research is to explore the experience of international students during their journey at one of UK Higher Education institutions. Previous studies covered one or two factors that affect the international students to study abroad such as costs, language, culture, etc.,. However, our study suggested six themes to cover the whole journey of the international students. The themes are: selection and admission; pre-arrival; induction; orientation and settlement, engagement; and teaching and learning. Our study offers some recommendations for each theme and for the university level.

Student mobility and internationalisation in higher education: perspectives from practitioners

Language and Intercultural Communication, 2016

Internationalisation is high on the agenda of higher education institutions across the world. Previous research on national and local policies surrounding this phenomenon has identified different discourses of internationalisation which may have an effect on practices such as student mobility. In order to understand better the role of student mobility in practice, the article analyses responses to an inquiry about internationalisation to a group of academic staff involved in intercultural education from universities around the world. Informants, all members of the research network Cultnet, working at 28 different universities in 15 countries, describe internationalisation within their practice, and their understanding of the role which student mobility plays in relation to this. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews over a period of six months. The findings locate student mobility within discourses of internationalisation. They also raise questions in relation to the need for an intercultural dialogue approach in internationalisation. We argue that institutions and their staff should be aware of the discursive field of internationalisation in HE, take a critical stance and analyse their own role in student mobility. How mobility fits within the field of intercultural education for incoming, outgoing and ´home´ students should be highlighted and clarified in internationalisation agendas.

Inside the International Student World

Journal of International Students

Substantial research emphasizes recruitment and retention of international students over their lived experiences. This qualitative study employed a sociocultural lens to explore five international graduate students’ lived experiences in the United States and their postgraduation plans. Findings suggest that international graduate students navigate a World that encompasses individual worlds that revolve around challenges, opportunities, and imagined communities. I draw on Gee’s (2014) notion of capitalizing a word normally written in lower case to make clear two differing connotations of the word “world.” I discuss implications for higher education host institutions and their offices of international education.

Problematising and reimagining the notion of ‘international student experience’

Studies in Higher Education, 2017

This article considers whether it is appropriate to continue distinguishing between international and domestic student experiences and whether vertical institutional structures limit our thinking in the provision of relevant, targeted services and support. It reflects on the heterogeneous nature of the international student population and compares that with diversity among domestic students. Outlining some of the factors which can affect their experiences, it argues that the traditional distinction between international and domestic students may be increasingly difficult to sustain. It suggests we need greater nuance in service delivery, and that working laterally across the institution could result in a more comprehensive approach to internationalisation, diversity, social and cultural inclusion to better support students, regardless of provenance.

Emerging empowerment of international students: how international student literature has shifted to include the students’ voices

Higher Education, 2019

Social isolation has been a central focus within international student research, especially with regard to international/host national relations. While a worthy area of study, we argue that the sheer volume of such research stems from the fact that universities' recruitment of foreign students is often justified by the claim that a more international campus will engender crosscultural skills. The main argument of this paper is that, from this perspective, the Bpoint^of such sojourns is seen as social, and any lack of interaction becomes problematic. This is an intellectually respectable position, but it is problematic that it has come to dominate the field to such a degree that the students' own experiences and goals are rarely heard. This paper calls for a de-muting of international students in research, so that more research is oriented by their stated priorities. While there has been a shift in this regard around the turn of the millennium, presumptions as to the purpose of educational sojourns remain and continue to colour research.