Abstract
The socio-financial crisis that started in Greece in 2009 jointly with the educational and work opportunities offered to people in the globalized society we live in, has led thousands of young Greeks to migrate to other countries seeking a better life (Argeros, 2018). Many of these immigrants have moved to the USA, for graduate level studies in popular US institutions. This paper focuses on the experiences that Greek graduate students face in a large US Midwestern institution. A semi-structured survey questionnaire was distributed to the students of Greek origin during Spring 2019. The results consider the main reasons of migration, as well as the cultural and educational challenges that the students face during their transition from the Greek to the US setting. These results give us an insight into the life of the new generation of Greek immigrants. The information about the reasons that they left Greece is an important source for considering how to stem the brain drain. Finally, based on the students’ perspectives about their cross-cultural experience as learners, workers, and citizens, we explore the value of intercultural understanding and diversity in education and society, in general.
Presenters
Anastasia-Olga (Olnancy) TziridesAcademic Researcher & Instructional Designer , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Education and Learning in a World of Difference
KEYWORDS
Cross-cultural, Greek, Students, Immigration, USA
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