Page 134 - Movers, Shapers, and Everything in Between: Influencers of the International Student Experience

Chapter 6
study findings. Future research that collects data on these parameters would be helpful to deepen understanding of the student experience.
Although all of the studies in this thesis include the perspective of international students, this remains a group that is often missing from higher education research. Discrepancies in definition and differences in data collection make analysis and comparison of international student data problematic at best and inaccurate at worst. Much of the research on student experiences focuses on domestic students by default, while international students are considered “other” students. As a result, the learning, living, and support systems of universities are sometimes influenced by research that focuses on the needs of domestic students and considers the needs of international students only secondarily.
In addition, the term ‘international student’ is very broad and encompasses an extraordinarily wide variety of students. The international student experience can be very different for an undergraduate or graduate student, for a full-time or part-time student, for a student at a branch campus or home campus, etc. While the studies in this thesis focus on full-time degree-seeking students studying abroad or at IBCs, there is room and a need to study other groups of international students to understand their motivations, expectations, and experiences.
On a practical level, more research to develop a more nuanced understanding of international student satisfaction could help create services that provide better support for students. Empirical research is fundamental to modern life, including the operation of higher education institutions. Universities can use the research in this paper to evaluate existing services and ensure they are effective. Insights into the student experience enable universities to meet expectations and ensure satisfaction. Student-level data can be used to design support services that enhance the academic and social experiences of international students and promote student engagement. Ideally, the data from this work will motivate further studies of the factors that shape international students’ experiences.
132