Learning Abroad
Cross Cultural Higher Education: Challenges of International Asian Students at one Australian University in Singapore
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Robyn Margaret Anderson, Vibhutiben Parekh
The study sought to understand possible challenges faced by international higher education students from Asia when studying at an offshore Australian university in Singapore. A mixed methods approach, including a survey and focus group interview, was employed. The study found that most international students from non-English speaking countries in Asia faced language related challenges. While many international Asian students preferred to have Asian teachers because of the similarity of culture and teaching methods, many also preferred certain aspects of the western learning and teaching styles of western teachers. It is thus recommended that to support the learning and teaching styles and needs of international students from Asian countries, offshore western-based universities in Singapore and other parts of Asia employ a blended learning and teaching approach, where a combination of western and Asian learning and teaching methods are used combining the best features of both approaches.
International Students and Work Place Experience
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Kay Hartwig
Many universities across the globe offer programs for international students that include a work place experience (field placements, practicum, work-integrated learning, internships, industry experience). This component of a program provides teaching and learning opportunities for international students to socialise into workplace settings often in unfamiliar cultural contexts. This presentation draws on data from a research project that was federally funded by the Australian Office for Learning and Teaching Innovation and Development grant. The project, Improving work placement for international students, their mentors and other stakeholders was a two year project that involved six Australian universities and covered a number of disciplines including Business, Education, Engineering, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Psychology and Speech Pathology. An outcome of the project was the development of a model of effective practice. The model will be discussed and this includes the relationship between the concepts of internationalisation, multi-socialisation and reflection. Ideas and recommendations on strategies to improve international students' experiences during their work placements will also be shared in this presentation.
The Experiences of the Korean Study Abroad Students
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Hae Na Kim
The purpose of this study is to identify the motivation and reasons of the early study abroad students in Korea and to analyze the issues and challenges of the Korean students and parents who experienced the early study abroad. In addition, the study is aimed to provide policy recommendations about the early study abroad for the Ministry of Education of Korea which supported the survey. From August 31 to September 20 in 2017, a survey supported by the Ministry of Education of Korea was implemented. Survey questionnaires were distributed to elementary schools, middle school and high schools mainly located in Seoul and Gyeonggi province in South Korea. In total, 57 schools participated in the survey. Students and their parents who stayed and studied at least for more than a year in foreign countries were main respondents. Also, teachers who taught the early study abroad students in those schools, the governmental officials who are involved with the early study abroad students and general college students responded to the survey. The study would analyze the responses of the survey about the early study statistically using multiple regression and suggest future policies about the early study abroad students. The study can make a significant contribution to policy recommendation as the study focuses on people who are involved with the early study abroad and provide in-depth insights about the early study abroad policies.
