A study of the academic challenges faced by the Western students in Chinese universities

Abstract

This study examined the learning experiences of Western students in Chinese universities. Thirty Western students were selected for in-depth interviews. It was found that Western students in Chinese universities faced many academic challenges. The experiences of these students involved both intercultural education and reverse mobility. The challenges they faced were related to both pedagogical and cultural differences between China and the West and the perceived inferior educational quality provided by Chinese universities. In facing these academic challenges, Western students in Chinese universities remained negative. They had low motivation to adapt to the ‘different and inferior’ educational environment and failed to call for a change of the educational provisions in the host universities. It is found that the micro-level experiences of international students were highly influenced by the macro-level global academic system and its hierarchy.