Prospective International Students Research Articles

The Moderating Effect of University Reputation on the Relationship between Website Quality and Destination Selection by Prospective International Students

The Moderating Effect of University Reputation on the Relationship between Website Quality and Destination Selection by Prospective International Students

Why do students who have mental health issues decide to study abroad? Qualitative research on mental health issues as a push factor for international students in Japan

Various factors have been reported to encourage students to study abroad and choose their destination, including academic and economic factors. Simultaneously, it has been reported that international students are at high risk of developing mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, isolation, and even suicide, due to a number of driving forces. Given that prospective international students who go abroad are part of the population with low life satisfaction, why do they take such a risk to go abroad? In this study, interviews with 10 international students studying at a national university in Japan revealed that they face several difficulties in their destination country that may cause them to experience mental health problems. It also revealed that mental health problems were among the factors that influenced the international students’ decision to study abroad. For some students, studying abroad was a way to escape a stressful previous environment in which they felt psychologically maladjusted, and getting away from such a stressful environment was one of the main reasons behind their decision to go abroad. Some others reported that their psychological distress played a secondary role in their decision and that they had other primary reasons for choosing to study abroad. Some students chose to study abroad not in spite of, but because of, psychological difficulties in their home countries, suggesting that more attention must be paid to mental health issues as a factor driving students to study abroad.

Understanding the Role of Social Media on Prospective Local and International Students’ Selection of University

Universities globally utilise social media platforms to disseminate information to prospective students. However there's a scarcity of research regarding the role of social media in promoting universities as international education hubs, especially in Asia. This study aims to investigate the impact of social media in promoting Asian universities, focusing on the preferences and behaviours of prospective undergraduate students from Malaysia and Indonesia. A qualitative research approach was employed, involving the recruitment of 12 undergraduate students from both countries. Data collection was conducted through online, in-depth, and semi-structured interviews. The majority of participants rely on social media platforms to gather information about potential universities and courses, citing ease of navigation and appeal compared to traditional websites and other platforms. However, universities demonstrate a lack of engagement with users, hindering the acquisition of comprehensive information about the institution. These findings offer valuable insights for universities to understand the information and social media elements that prospective students commonly seek on social media platforms. Additionally, they provide guidance on effective strategies for engaging with and recruiting students. Ultimately, this research may assist universities in better promoting themselves as international education institutions, particularly in the Asian context.

Internationalization Development Strategies of Applied Local Undergraduate Colleges and Universities Based on Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence Customer Research

In an era of globalization and rapid technological advancement, internationalization has become a vital requirement for higher education institutions around the world. This research investigates the efficacy of incorporating virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into internationalization initiatives for applied local undergraduate institutions and universities. A multistep technique was used, which included market research, immersive customer involvement, content production, and strategic collaborations. A pilot study of 200 prospective international students looked at the influence of VR and AI-based initiatives on key recruitment indicators like application and conversion rates. The results demonstrated significant gains in both application rates and conversion rates in the experimental group compared to the control group, demonstrating the transformative potential of immersive technology and data-driven engagement approaches in higher education recruitment and retention efforts. Furthermore, increases in engagement time and satisfaction scores demonstrated the beneficial effects of VR and AI technology on student engagement and contentment. This study adds to the expanding body of literature on the interface of technology and international education, providing useful insights for institutions looking to increase their worldwide reach and competitiveness. However, further study is needed to investigate the long-term effectiveness and scalability of VR and AI-based projects in higher education internationalization. Overall, this study indicates the potential for VR and AI technology to transform internationalization policies and build a more inclusive and integrated learning environment in higher education.

LOSING STEAM: THE DEMISE OF THE “JAPANESE DREAM” AMONG PROSPECTIVE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Much like immigration, reasons to study abroad often relate to push and/or pull factors. Although attractive programs and courses can be major pulls for some prospective international students, financial matters such as tuition, living costs, and pathways to employment also have a significant influence. Since 2010 when Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) initiated projects and activities to promote the internationalization of universities, the number of inbound international students in Japan was steadily increasing, most of which were coming from East and Southeast Asia. This trend continued up until around 2018, and, understandably, rapidly declined in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and implementation of rigid border restrictions. While the pandemic undoubtedly played a major part in this downtrend, one cannot overlook the fact that enrollments and interest in studying in Japan was already losing steam. With its university rankings increasingly losing out to competitive universities in China and Singapore and its relatively low entry-level salaries amid a long-term recession, which has further been exacerbated by the weakened yen, the “Japanese dream” is arguably past its prime. While taking into account the contextual factors which influenced this trend, my study involved a critical discourse analysis of MEXT’s ambitious plan to somehow reverse this trend by bolstering further internationalization, attracting highly-skilled foreign talent and essentially saving a sinking ship. The findings from this study may give institutions in the education and employment sectors an opportunity to reassess their current support systems and programs for lucrative foreign talent.

‘Study-abroad influencers’ and insider knowledge: how new forms of study-abroad expertise on social media mediate student mobility from India to Germany

This paper examines new forms of study-abroad expertise on social media and their role in mediating Indian student mobility to Germany. Firstly, it explores how mutual-support Facebook and WhatsApp groups—used by prospective international students in India to support each other through the process of applying to German universities—have contributed to the emergence of new forms of education consultancy, offered by Indian students or graduates of German universities, whom I call ‘Student Guides’. In addition, it shows how some Indians studying in Germany have started ‘Study in Germany’ YouTube channels, aimed at aspirant student migrants, and have become important ‘study-abroad influencers’. The paper analyses how these new forms of study-abroad expertise offer prospective international students social and cultural capital important for successful student migration, apart from shaping their imaginative geographies of Germany, and embedding them in cultures of mobility. Furthermore, the paper highlights how these new forms of study-abroad expertise intersect with, and critique, a more ‘traditional’ study-abroad expert: the professional education consultant. The paper draws on a digital ethnography of ‘Study in Germany’ Facebook and WhatsApp groups and YouTube channels, as well as interviews with the YouTubers, Student Guides, and Indian students in Germany.

Challenges Faced by International Students: A Case Study of Jambi’s Institute of Higher Learning

Although there have been many studies investigating international students, many of them focused on the students who travel in pursuit of higher education in English countries and/or universities. This current qualitative study is intended to explore the experiences of international students, particularly the challenges, and strategies to deal with the challenges and the culture shock while studying in Jambi, Indonesia. In order to collect the data, a semi-structured interview was employed and guided by an interview protocol to stimulate the participants in answering the questions during the interview. The participants of this study were nine international students who studied at one public university in Jambi. Through thematic analysis, we found that international students faced some challenges living and studying in Jambi, such as language issues, academic issues, individual issues, and living style and related issues. To overcome the challenges, international students employed two main strategies, including self-management strategies and seeking help. Moreover, although the culture of international students is quite similar to the culture of the hosting country, we identified a lack of foreigner sense and physical contact as the culture shocks experienced by one international student. Looking at the challenges and culture shocks experienced by international students, this study suggests that preparation is crucial for prospective international students before pursuing their studies overseas.

Lives on hold

This paper analyses Japan’s COVID-19 response drawing on a survey of more than 3200 prospective international students affected by the (colloquially named) #JapanTravelBan. The paper charts the evolution of Japan’s COVID-19 response from the earliest border restrictions in February 2020 to the eventual blanket re-opening to international students in Summer 2022. Subsequently, survey DATA provide evidence of (1) the drastic mental health effects for prospective international students during this time, (2) students’ loss of agency due to the protracted uncertainty of both policy and communication from the Japanese government, and (3) potential damage caused to Japan’s reputation as a study destination. Drawing on these findings the paper offers broader suggestions for appropriate student migration policymaking: greater transparency, attention to students’ security throughout their study sojourn, an emphasis on stability, and resilience to crises.

Pull factors in choosing a higher education study abroad destination after the massive global immobility: A re-examination from Chinese perspectives

Chinese international students compose the largest group of full-tuition-paying students globally and are important to hosting destinations both culturally and financially. However, the obstructed international mobility caused by COVID-19 has changed their international applications. As the world gradually resumes its previous mobility level, it is important to comprehend what pull factors can effectively attract students for marketing purposes. This quantitative research re-examines the established pull factors considered and valued by prospective Chinese international students and their parents and discovered that (1) a combination of five to six factors can be sufficient for Chinese students to decide on an overseas destination, (2) cost, global rankings, and Chinese employment prospects have become the most substantial factors in destination choices, (3) opportunities for immigration and overseas employment are no longer significant, and (4) students and parents view international education with different interpretations. The marketing implications are discussed.

The prospect of higher education marketing: adaption, transition or hybridisation?

Purpose This study aims to examine the impacts of the forced shift to online/hybrid learning on international students’ perceptions and behaviour. It aims to understand the direction of future university marketing changes to address this vital and urgent concern. Design/methodology/approach This study deployed an explorative qualitative design and data collected through interviews (n, 20) with prospective international students. Findings The study identified four main themes: mode of class operation, that is, the balance between online/offline/hybrid modes of course delivery; enhanced level of flexibility in terms of both visa regulations and financial aid; strategic use of social media and virtual tools to connect with and impress the international student community; and evidence of digitalization and experiential learning. Practical implications This study has many theoretical and managerial implications. As international students perceive COVID-19 as an under-researched theme in the higher education market, the study’s outcome helps understand the grey areas of expectation versus reality in higher education marketing. Originality/value This research offers a new perspective from the demand side on higher education marketing strategies amid COVID-19.

White U.S. College Students’ Perceptions Of Prospective International Students Differ By Race And Stereotypical Attributes

Because many international students of color report feeling devalued by host peers, host peers’ responses to students from different racial/ethnic groups warrant empirical study. Participants were White, non-Latinx undergraduates (N = 228) who were randomly assigned to one of four conditions. Specifically, participants read about a prospective student from either Asia or Europe who was described as exhibiting either model minority stereotypical or counter-stereotypical attributes. Participants evaluated how likely the student was to be admitted to college and the student’s academic and social competence. Despite identical qualifications, participants perceived the Asian student as more likely to be admitted but less academically competent than the European student. Regardless of race, international students with stereotypical attributes were perceived as less socially competent than those with counter-stereotypical attributes. Results suggest that racial dissimilarity reduces host peers’ receptivity towards international students of color. Targeted multicultural education for host peers may be necessary to promote international students’ effective integration.

How Do Asian Candidates Fare in IELTS? A Look at 15 Years of Performance Data

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and its Asian test-takers have shared a heightening interdependency over the previous two decades. In order to achieve ambitions for an international education at Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and UK universities, growing numbers of Asian prospective international students, particularly from China and India, find themselves required to undertake IELTS to demonstrate evidence of the sufficiency of their English language proficiency. Such is their importance to the tertiary education sectors of these countries that Asian candidates, who regularly constitute over 25 of the most common 40 cohorts of test-takers by nationality, have been key drivers of the more than ten-fold increase in the global IELTS candidature since 2003. The present study investigates how cohorts from 24 Asian nations fared in the Academic IELTS test from 2003 to 2018, utilising official performance data released by the IELTS partners. The study revealed that; 1) candidates from Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Philippines registered the highest overall and section band scores across Asia; 2) the most sizeable overall score gains were made by Bangladeshi, Indonesian, and Jordanian candidates; and 3) worrying deteriorations in outcomes were exhibited by Emirati, Indian, and Iraqi test-takers. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of Anglophone universities’ academic admission practices and the need for further research. Keywords: IELTS; English language proficiency; language testing; test-taker performance; international students

What academia say on university choices in achieving the future goals of studying abroad: meta-analysis

This paper aimed to understand what the academic elites think about the student's university decision process and achieve students' future goals from studying at foreign universities. Because the success of studying abroad is believed to be closely related to the process of selecting university candidates with all the advantages and prestige of each university offered during recruitment promotions, to understand this, we searched for data sources electronically from various international journals and promotional advertisements. We processed this in a phenomenological approach that begins with understanding the problem and the study's hypothesis—the coding system, evaluation, and in-depth interpretation to get the findings' validity and reliability. Our data sources are based on Google Scholar, Microsoft Academic, and other sources from 2010 to 2021. Based on the results of the discussion of the findings data, we can conclude our findings, among others. The decision to study abroad is first beginning with the right subject, course content, sports and societies, student accommodation, and scholarship availability. To get that information, applicants have to research alumni meetings, scholarship tours and promotions, western or eastern countries, and use multiple information sources. Thus, these findings should help prospective students and universities explore prospective international students' advertisements.

An investigation into the influential factors that impact consumer decision-making among prospective online MBA students

ABSTRACT This research investigates the influential factors impacting CDM among prospective online MBA students, using qualitative interviews. This research focus is contextualised with analysis on the CDM process and the disparity between UK and international students, to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the influential factors. The findings of this research point to accreditation, price and rankings having the most influence on CDM among prospective online MBA students. It suggests that the CDM process among international students is more extensive than among UK students. International students’ searches had a longer duration, compared more programme alternatives, favoured detailed information such as course content and marketing materials, and searches often culminated in an application to more than one university. Meanwhile, UK students were more influenced by outbound university phone communications, which the data imply is attributable to English being their first language. Concluding practical recommendations include marketing messaging optimisation, strategic focus on rankings, accreditation and pricing and driving brand loyalty among prospective international students.

“You are not as localised as I need”: employability of Chinese returning graduates

PurposeInternational student employability has been accorded increased emphasis in the internationalisation agendas, especially in major destination countries as it shapes universities' attractiveness to prospective international students. Having insights into returning graduates' employability in their home country has become critical given that a majority of international graduates return home after their overseas study. This study responds to this critical need by examining how foreign credentials are valued by employers in the field of accounting in China, based on in-depth interviews with employers, alumni and policymakers.Design/methodology/approachThis study draws on a qualitative approach involving literature review and in-depth interviews with 28 key stakeholders: employers, returning graduates and policymakers in China and India. The key research question of the study is how foreign credentials are valued by employers in the field of accounting in China and India. This article focuses on the Chinese context. In-depth interviews with employers and policymakers focused on eliciting nuanced socio-cultural understandings as to perceptions and decisions associated with desirable graduate attributes and the relative value of credentials. Interviews with returning graduates aimed to understand how different capitals were mobilised to gain employment in the Chinese labour market.FindingsThe empirical findings of the study show that Chinese returning graduates could be seen to lack the localised knowledge needed to work in Chinese companies and ability to adapt to the local environment. However the possible development of a dual local and international guanxi through overseas study can be regarded as a marker of distinction in the home labour market. The associated value of such a dual guanxi signals the importance for Chinese international students to develop transnational networks while simultaneously maintaining their kinship, social and business networks locally during their overseas education.Originality/valueThe study provides fresh insights into a marked shift in China, with less of a preference for Western credentials, as compared to 10 years ago when overseas credentials were often regarded more favourably. Even though overseas study generally provides Chinese graduates with an exposure to international practices and global perspectives, whether such an overseas exposure and foreign language competency would be an advantage also depends on the business needs and sometimes the business model of organisations.

ADAPTASI KEMANDIRIAN DAN KELESTARIAN PRESTASI AKADEMIK PELAJAR ANTARABANGSA UNIVERSITI AWAM MALAYSIA

The phenomenon of globalization catalyses the mobilization of international students to pursue higher education abroad. Malaysia is one of the destinations for international students where the advantage is synonymous with the country’s increasingly proactive internationalisation policy in recruiting international students. This initiative was taken to boost the position of Malaysian Higher Learning Institutions in the global league of prestigious education hub ratings. Therefore, the objective of this study is to focus on studying the feedback of the experience of the process of adaptation of international students’ independence which is the key to the arrival of these groups to this country. A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews which involved 40 in-depth interviews of international students currently studying at four selected public universities. The findings had proven that there is a link between the adaptation of independence and sustainability of the academic performance of first-year students. The factors that have a different impact on the adaptation of international students’ independence are seen in the context of (i) English language as a medium of teaching and learning, (ii) ongoing accreditation, (iii) offering contemporary and added value programmes, (iv) customer satisfaction and service quality assurance and (v) university reputation recognition. The findings discussed in this paper are valuable information not only for prospective international students who wish to further their studies abroad but can also be used as a guideline for the universities’ management in understanding the implications of self-adaptation that has continuity with academic achievement among international students.

International Students’ Experience of Studying at Indonesian Universities

This article reports a systematic review of articles published between 2009 and 2019 focusing specifically on the experiences of international students studying at Indonesian universities. We used such international databases as PubMed and CINAHL, and a national database, SINTA. The articles abstracted in such databases were screened out using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The analysis of the six selected articles found that international students studying in Indonesia encountered such challenges as cultural adaptations, language problems, and differences in the educational system. The international students also experienced health care systems different from those of their home country. This empirical evidence suggests that prospective international students who plan to study in Indonesia should be well-informed of both academic and non-academic matters that they may encounter or they may have to anticipate.

Driving enrolment intention through social media engagement: a study of Vietnamese prospective students

ABSTRACT Social media platforms provide prospective international students with ready access and exposure to information relevant to international higher education institutions and their respective brand images. We examined the extent to which social media engagement and electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) activities shape prospective students’ perceived brand image of institutions and, subsequently, their enrolment intention. Findings from a sample of 445 prospective students in Vietnam indicate the indirect effect of social media engagement on enrolment intention via eWOM-seeking activities and perceived brand image. Compared with their postgraduate counterparts, prospective undergraduates’ perception of an institution’s brand image is more strongly influenced by their eWOM-seeking activities on social media. In contrast, the direct influence of perceived brand image on enrolment intention is stronger for prospective postgraduate students. The findings from this study enrich the higher education literature and have implications for higher education providers in relation to developing engagement strategies with prospective students through social media platforms.

International Student Perceptions of American Gun Culture and School Shootings: A Public Health Examination.

A shooting in an American education institution quickly creates a global ripple effect, due to the large number of international students enrolled in American secondary schools and higher education institutions. International students studying in the United States may offer unique insight into local and global perceptions of American gun culture, highlight the transnational physical, emotional, and psychological impact of gun violence, and offer fresh understandings about the American gun violence public health problem. A qualitative research study was conducted at The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) that included focus groups and in-depth interviews of students from China and India. These nations represent the largest American international student populations. The study included a random sampling methodology. Findings show that gun violence in American schools is a major concern for prospective international students and their families. While concerns about targeted-shootings diminish, students develop behaviors that indicate a pervasive fear of indiscriminate attacks (e.g., mass shootings and petty crime), such as avoidance of large public gatherings and traveling in groups for safety. They also question university campuses' unfettered visitor access and remain perplexed by the ease of gun access in America, which they directly attribute to causing America's gun violence problem. Social and mass media play large roles in perception-building processes by supplying accurate and real-time as well as fake or misleading information. However, divergent viewpoints emerge among family members concerned for their overseas relatives' safety while international students develop more refined perspectives.

International Graduate Outcomes in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom’s International Education Strategy sets a target to attract 600,000 international students by 2030, an increase of 30 percent. With Brexit, there is a sharper awareness across government of the benefits that international students and graduates confer in economic terms and in long-term positive influence on perceptions of the United Kingdom itself. To reach this target, the country needs to offer opportunities for international graduates to remain in the United Kingdom and work for a period post graduation. It also needs to understand, and where possible improve upon, the strength of its offer to prospective international students.