Research Article
Year 2017,
Volume: 3 Issue: 8, 344 - 355, 31.08.2017
Abstract
The number
of international students is increasing in higher institutions in Malaysia as
the country is moving towards becoming the hub of education in the Asian Region.
In the hype of welcoming and getting them enrolled in the institutions, are the
host institutions ready for them? There
are many aspects that can ensure the smoothness of the education journey of the
international students here. A study on the elements that assist and hinder the
learning experiences of the international students in a public university was
embarked on. However, this paper delineates only one part of the study – the
human touch. It deliberates on the people who have played a role in assisting
and also hindering the international students’ learning experiences. A google
form consisting of 5 open-ended questions was emailed to 600 international
students who were considered active in 2016 but only 40 students responded. The
data were analysed qualitatively where themes on who and how the people in the
host institutions were involved in assisting and also hindering the
international students in moving towards completing their studies. The data
revealed that the international students admitted that they found the people,
namely the supervisors in the host institution to be really instrumental in
their learning experiences. They named the administrative staff to be leaving
quite a bad impact in their journey as international students here.
References
- Alavi, M., & Mansor, S. M. S. (2011). Categories of Problems among International Students in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Procedia- Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30, 1581-1587. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.307 Andrade, M. S. (2006). International students in English-speaking universities: Adjustment factors. Journal of Research in International Education, 5 (2), 131-154. Arkoudis, S., & Tran, L.T. (2007). International students in Australia: Read ten thousand volumes of books and walk ten thousand miles. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 27(2), 157-169. Bektas, Y., Demir, A., & Bowden, R. (2009). Psychological adaptation of Turkish students at U.S. campuses. International Journal of Advanced Counselling, 31,130-143. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1994). Ecological models of human development. International Encyclopedia of Education, Vol. 3, 2nd. Ed. Oxford: Elsevier. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an Experimental Ecology of Human Development. American Psychologist. July, 513 – 531 Cuthbert, D., Smith, W., & Boey, J. (2008). What do we really know about the outcomes of Australian international education? A critical review and prospectus for future research. Journal of Studies in International Education, 12, 255-275. Dawson, J., & Hacket, J. (2006). Developing service quality for international students. Paper presented at the Australian International Conference 2006. Retrieved February 15, 2010, from www.idp.com/aiec Doherty, C. & Singh, P. (2005). How the West is done: Simulating Western pedagogy in a curriculum for Asian international students. In P. Ninnes & M. Hellsten (Eds.), Internationalizing higher education : Critical explorations of pedagogy and policy (pp. 53- 74), Hong Kong : Comparative Education Research Centre. Ferman, T. (2003). Ways forward in developing the writing skills of international students. In A.J. Liddicoat, S. Eisenchlas & S. Trevaskes (Eds.), Australian perspectives on internationalising education (pp. 39-52), Melbourne: Language Australia. Fritz, M.V., Chin, D., & DeMarinis, V. (2008). Stressors, anxiety, acculturation and adjustment among international and North American students. International Journal of Intercultural relations, 32, 244-259. Guilfoyle, A.M., & Harryba, S. (2009). Understanding Seychelles international students’ social and cultural experiences during transition to an Australian university. The International Journal of Learning, 16(11), 1-22. Harkonen, U. (2007). The Bronfenbrenner ecological systems theory of human development. Scientific articles of V International Conference PERSON.COLOR.NATURE. MUSIC. October 17-21, 2007. Daugavpils University, Saule. Latvia. Hellsten, M. (2008). Researching international pedagogy and the forming of new academic identities. In M. Hellsten & A. Reid (Eds.), Researching international pedagogies (pp. 83-98), Dordrecht : Springer. Hellsten, M., & Prescott, A. (2004). Learning at university: The international student experience. International Education Journal, 5(3), 344-351. Hunley, H. A. (2009). Students’ functioning while studying abroad: The impact of psychological distress and loneliness. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 1-7. Jiang, M., Green, R. J., Henley, T.B., & Masten, W.G. (2009). Acculturation in relation to the acquisition of a second language. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 30(6), 481-492. Khairi, O. A.-Z., & Rechards, C. (2010). Arab Postgraduate Students in Malaysia: Identifying and overcoming the cultural and language barriers. Arab World English Journal, 1(1), 107-129. Knight, J. (2004). Internationalization remodeled: Definition, approaches, and rationales. Journal of Studies in International Education,8(1), 5-31. Knight, J. A. (1999). Internationalisation of higher education. In H.de Wit & J.A Knight (Eds.), Quality and internationalization in higher education, (pp. 13-28), France: OECD Publications. Kolb, A. Y., & Kolb, D. A. (2005). Learning styles and learning spaces: Enhancing experiential learning in higher education. Academy of Management Learning and Education, 4(2), 193-212. Liddicoat, A.J. (2003). Internationalisation as a concept in higher education: Perspectives from policy. In A.J. Liddicoat, S. Eisenchlas & S. Trevaskes (Eds.), Australian perspectives on internationalising education (pp. 13-26), Melbourne: Language Australia. Manjula, J., & Slethaug, G. (2011). The Business of Education : Improving International Student Learning Experiences in Malaysia. Paper presented at the 14th International Business Research Conference, Dubai UAE. Mehzideh, N., & Scott, G. (2005). Adjustment problems of Iranian international students in Scotland. International Education Journal, 6(4), 484-493. Mohd Zaki M.A. 2011. Development and evaluation of a learning-to-learn English module for EFL learners. Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Master. Myles, C., & Cheng, L. (2003). The social and cultural life of non-native English speaking international graduate students at a Canadian university. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 2, 247-263. Penn, H. (2005). Understanding early childhood education. Issues and controversies. Glasgow: Bell & Bain Ltd. Niles, F.S. (1995). Cultural differences in learning motivation and learning strategies: A comparison of overseas and Australian students at an Australian university. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 19(3), 369-385. Noor Saazai, M.S., Melor M.Y, & Mohamed Amin, E. (2012). Research on international students in traditional host countries and Malaysia: Some potential areas in Malaysia. Paper presented at the 6th International Conference on University Teaching and Learning (InCULT) 2012, Concorde Hotel, Shah Alam, 20- 21 November 2012. Novera, I.A. (2004). Indonesian postgraduate students studying in Australia: An examination of their academic, social and cultural experiences. International Education Journal, 5(4), 475-487. Ramburuth, P., & McCormick, J. (2001). Learning diversity in higher education: A comparative study of Asian international and Australian students. Higher Education, 42, 333 – 350. Ryan, J., & Caroll, J. (2005). ‘Canaries in the coalmine’: international students in Western universities. In Caroll, J., & Ryan, J. (Eds). Teaching International Students: Improving Learning for all (pp. 3-10). NY: Routledge. Sakurai, T., McCall-Wolf, F., & Kashima, E.S. (2009). Building intercultural links: The impact of a multicultural intervention programme on social ties of international students in Australia. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 1-10. Sameena Ahmad, (2006). International student expectations: The voice of Indian students. Paper presented at the Australian International Conference 2006. Retrieved February 15, 2010, from www.idp.com/aiec Sawir, E. (2005). Language difficulties of international students in Australia: The effects of prior learning experience. International Education Journal, 6(5), 567-580. Sayers, J., & Franklin, T. (2008). Culture shock! Cultural issues in a tertiary course using reflective techniques. Reflective Practice,9(1), 79-88. Tavakoli, S., Lumley, M.A., Hijazi, A.M., Slavin-Spenny, O.M., & Parris, G.P. (2009). Effects of assertiveness training and expressive writing on acculturative stress in international students: A randomized trial. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56(4), 590-596. Tonttila, T. (2006). The parenthood experience of a mother with a disabled child and the meaning of the social environment and parent - professional partnerships. University of Helskinki. Faculty of Behavioural sciences. Department of Applied Sciences of Education. Research report 272. Trahar, S. (2008). Close encounters of the cultural kind. In M. Hellsten & A. Reid (Eds.), Researching international pedagogies (pp. 45-64), Dordrecht: Springer. Trevaskes, S., Eisenchlas, S. & Liddicoat, A. J. (2003). Language, culture and literacy in the internationalization process of higher education. In A.J. Liddicoat, S. Eisenchlas & S. Trevaskes (Eds.), Australian perspectives on internationalising education (pp. 1-12), Melbourne: Language Australia. Wong, J.K. (2004). Are the learning styles of Asian international students culturally or contextually based? International Education Journal, 4(4), 154-166. Yusliza Mohd. Yusoff, & Chelliah, S. (2010). Adjustment in international students in Malaysian public university. International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, 1(3), 275-278. Zhu, C., Valcke, M., & Schellens, T. (2007). A cross-cultural study of Chinese and Flemish university students: Do they differ in learning conceptions and approaches to learning? Learning and Individual Differences, 18, 120 -127. Zuria, M., Salleh, A., Saemah, R., & Noriah, M. I. (2010). Challenges for International Students in Malaysia: Culture, Climate and Care. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 7, 289-293. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.10.040
Year 2017,
Volume: 3 Issue: 8, 344 - 355, 31.08.2017
Abstract
References
- Alavi, M., & Mansor, S. M. S. (2011). Categories of Problems among International Students in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Procedia- Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30, 1581-1587. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.10.307 Andrade, M. S. (2006). International students in English-speaking universities: Adjustment factors. Journal of Research in International Education, 5 (2), 131-154. Arkoudis, S., & Tran, L.T. (2007). International students in Australia: Read ten thousand volumes of books and walk ten thousand miles. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 27(2), 157-169. Bektas, Y., Demir, A., & Bowden, R. (2009). Psychological adaptation of Turkish students at U.S. campuses. International Journal of Advanced Counselling, 31,130-143. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1994). Ecological models of human development. International Encyclopedia of Education, Vol. 3, 2nd. Ed. Oxford: Elsevier. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an Experimental Ecology of Human Development. American Psychologist. July, 513 – 531 Cuthbert, D., Smith, W., & Boey, J. (2008). What do we really know about the outcomes of Australian international education? A critical review and prospectus for future research. Journal of Studies in International Education, 12, 255-275. Dawson, J., & Hacket, J. (2006). Developing service quality for international students. Paper presented at the Australian International Conference 2006. Retrieved February 15, 2010, from www.idp.com/aiec Doherty, C. & Singh, P. (2005). How the West is done: Simulating Western pedagogy in a curriculum for Asian international students. In P. Ninnes & M. Hellsten (Eds.), Internationalizing higher education : Critical explorations of pedagogy and policy (pp. 53- 74), Hong Kong : Comparative Education Research Centre. Ferman, T. (2003). Ways forward in developing the writing skills of international students. In A.J. Liddicoat, S. Eisenchlas & S. Trevaskes (Eds.), Australian perspectives on internationalising education (pp. 39-52), Melbourne: Language Australia. Fritz, M.V., Chin, D., & DeMarinis, V. (2008). Stressors, anxiety, acculturation and adjustment among international and North American students. International Journal of Intercultural relations, 32, 244-259. Guilfoyle, A.M., & Harryba, S. (2009). Understanding Seychelles international students’ social and cultural experiences during transition to an Australian university. The International Journal of Learning, 16(11), 1-22. Harkonen, U. (2007). The Bronfenbrenner ecological systems theory of human development. Scientific articles of V International Conference PERSON.COLOR.NATURE. MUSIC. October 17-21, 2007. Daugavpils University, Saule. Latvia. Hellsten, M. (2008). Researching international pedagogy and the forming of new academic identities. In M. Hellsten & A. Reid (Eds.), Researching international pedagogies (pp. 83-98), Dordrecht : Springer. Hellsten, M., & Prescott, A. (2004). Learning at university: The international student experience. International Education Journal, 5(3), 344-351. Hunley, H. A. (2009). Students’ functioning while studying abroad: The impact of psychological distress and loneliness. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 1-7. Jiang, M., Green, R. J., Henley, T.B., & Masten, W.G. (2009). Acculturation in relation to the acquisition of a second language. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 30(6), 481-492. Khairi, O. A.-Z., & Rechards, C. (2010). Arab Postgraduate Students in Malaysia: Identifying and overcoming the cultural and language barriers. Arab World English Journal, 1(1), 107-129. Knight, J. (2004). Internationalization remodeled: Definition, approaches, and rationales. Journal of Studies in International Education,8(1), 5-31. Knight, J. A. (1999). Internationalisation of higher education. In H.de Wit & J.A Knight (Eds.), Quality and internationalization in higher education, (pp. 13-28), France: OECD Publications. Kolb, A. Y., & Kolb, D. A. (2005). Learning styles and learning spaces: Enhancing experiential learning in higher education. Academy of Management Learning and Education, 4(2), 193-212. Liddicoat, A.J. (2003). Internationalisation as a concept in higher education: Perspectives from policy. In A.J. Liddicoat, S. Eisenchlas & S. Trevaskes (Eds.), Australian perspectives on internationalising education (pp. 13-26), Melbourne: Language Australia. Manjula, J., & Slethaug, G. (2011). The Business of Education : Improving International Student Learning Experiences in Malaysia. Paper presented at the 14th International Business Research Conference, Dubai UAE. Mehzideh, N., & Scott, G. (2005). Adjustment problems of Iranian international students in Scotland. International Education Journal, 6(4), 484-493. Mohd Zaki M.A. 2011. Development and evaluation of a learning-to-learn English module for EFL learners. Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Master. Myles, C., & Cheng, L. (2003). The social and cultural life of non-native English speaking international graduate students at a Canadian university. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 2, 247-263. Penn, H. (2005). Understanding early childhood education. Issues and controversies. Glasgow: Bell & Bain Ltd. Niles, F.S. (1995). Cultural differences in learning motivation and learning strategies: A comparison of overseas and Australian students at an Australian university. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 19(3), 369-385. Noor Saazai, M.S., Melor M.Y, & Mohamed Amin, E. (2012). Research on international students in traditional host countries and Malaysia: Some potential areas in Malaysia. Paper presented at the 6th International Conference on University Teaching and Learning (InCULT) 2012, Concorde Hotel, Shah Alam, 20- 21 November 2012. Novera, I.A. (2004). Indonesian postgraduate students studying in Australia: An examination of their academic, social and cultural experiences. International Education Journal, 5(4), 475-487. Ramburuth, P., & McCormick, J. (2001). Learning diversity in higher education: A comparative study of Asian international and Australian students. Higher Education, 42, 333 – 350. Ryan, J., & Caroll, J. (2005). ‘Canaries in the coalmine’: international students in Western universities. In Caroll, J., & Ryan, J. (Eds). Teaching International Students: Improving Learning for all (pp. 3-10). NY: Routledge. Sakurai, T., McCall-Wolf, F., & Kashima, E.S. (2009). Building intercultural links: The impact of a multicultural intervention programme on social ties of international students in Australia. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 1-10. Sameena Ahmad, (2006). International student expectations: The voice of Indian students. Paper presented at the Australian International Conference 2006. Retrieved February 15, 2010, from www.idp.com/aiec Sawir, E. (2005). Language difficulties of international students in Australia: The effects of prior learning experience. International Education Journal, 6(5), 567-580. Sayers, J., & Franklin, T. (2008). Culture shock! Cultural issues in a tertiary course using reflective techniques. Reflective Practice,9(1), 79-88. Tavakoli, S., Lumley, M.A., Hijazi, A.M., Slavin-Spenny, O.M., & Parris, G.P. (2009). Effects of assertiveness training and expressive writing on acculturative stress in international students: A randomized trial. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56(4), 590-596. Tonttila, T. (2006). The parenthood experience of a mother with a disabled child and the meaning of the social environment and parent - professional partnerships. University of Helskinki. Faculty of Behavioural sciences. Department of Applied Sciences of Education. Research report 272. Trahar, S. (2008). Close encounters of the cultural kind. In M. Hellsten & A. Reid (Eds.), Researching international pedagogies (pp. 45-64), Dordrecht: Springer. Trevaskes, S., Eisenchlas, S. & Liddicoat, A. J. (2003). Language, culture and literacy in the internationalization process of higher education. In A.J. Liddicoat, S. Eisenchlas & S. Trevaskes (Eds.), Australian perspectives on internationalising education (pp. 1-12), Melbourne: Language Australia. Wong, J.K. (2004). Are the learning styles of Asian international students culturally or contextually based? International Education Journal, 4(4), 154-166. Yusliza Mohd. Yusoff, & Chelliah, S. (2010). Adjustment in international students in Malaysian public university. International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, 1(3), 275-278. Zhu, C., Valcke, M., & Schellens, T. (2007). A cross-cultural study of Chinese and Flemish university students: Do they differ in learning conceptions and approaches to learning? Learning and Individual Differences, 18, 120 -127. Zuria, M., Salleh, A., Saemah, R., & Noriah, M. I. (2010). Challenges for International Students in Malaysia: Culture, Climate and Care. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 7, 289-293. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.10.040
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Details
| Journal Section | Articles |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | August 31, 2017 |
| Submission Date | August 29, 2017 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2017Volume: 3 Issue: 8 |
Cited By
Challenges in Academic Speaking for Non-Native Speakers: The Case of Libyan Students Studying in Malaysia
Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.30.S1.03
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