The Plights of West-African Students in Turkish Universities: A Case Study of Gaziantep University

Abstract

Like any other Western country, Turkiye is becoming an educational destination for many international students, especially Africans. Therefore, Turkiye emphasizes universities' internationalization, which brought rapid success to its political and economic trends. Therefore, this present study investigated the plights of West African students in Turkish universities, specifically focusing on the West African students at Gaziantep University. The study is based on a qualitative research design with a case study approach. This study used interviews and observation to collect data from 12 participants—one participant at least from each of the 10 West African countries presently active at Gaziantep University. The data collected were qualitatively analyzed based on common themes designed for this study. According to the findings of this current study, the language and prejudice of locals against West African students and the country they come from where the enormous challenges they faced while at Gaziantep University. Concerning these findings, the present study recommends addressing the problems mentioned earlier, such as special orientation programs organized by the university and other relevant bodies, which should be delivered by university staff familiar with Africans' socio-cultural heritage and economic and political background. Likewise, scholarships and financial support from the government and other relevant authorities should be given to West African students to overcome the financial problems they encountered during their stay at Gaziantep University