Standards for Local and International Students in Australian Universities - Research Proposal Example

Introduction Like s in many other Western countries, Australia claims its education system to be diverse in terms of s offered in its universities. The high academic performance of the Australian universities correlates with their diverseness in provision of courses in universities. According to Coates et al., diverse systems often perform better than the institutions with less diverse system because it optimizes potential opportunities for students (Coates 2013, pp.5). The diverse set of institutions in Australia not only allows students to choose the best institutions that will enable them to complete higher education (Paton 2007, pp.101). According to Coates (2013, pp.8), the universities in Australia are employing some specific factors to enhance and ensure they remain as outstanding international institutions for both local and international students. In tandem with this assertion, the research proposal aims to explore how have Australian universities cultivated a conducive climate for the integration of local and international students. Two research methods, interviews and focus groups, are employed to address the abovementioned inquiry. Literature review According to the findings of Forbes-Mewett (2007, pp.1), a study that involved interviewing 200 international students, the exclusion of the international students from school committees such as the Vice-Chancellors’ Committee is one of the factors that affects the education system in Australia because it falls short in upholding a consistent and caring environment for international students. Additionally, variation in cultural practices such as new environment and social groups pose great challenge to the academic progress as well as integration of the international students in Australia. In support of this claim, the use of questionnaires by Wang and Cross in 2005 in collecting information about the Chinese experience in Australia showed that cultural integration as well as social cohesion influenced their overall performance in the universities (Cross 2006, pp.156). The result of the research carried out by many researchers including Coates and his colleagues (2013, pp.5) shows that the standard of education in Australia is good. The survey study that was conducted by Coates and his colleagues show that many international students pursue their education in Australia now, more so than in the earlier years because of changes that have been enacted by the government. According to Meyer (2012, pp.3), this has significantly affected the progress of local graduates because it has contributed to emergence of a Nitwit Nation instead of a clever country. In addition to this, overreliance on imported workforce in the universities has led to the decline in number of local staff in the Australian universities. Additionally, the result of Coates’ study shows that Australian universities have many teachers who employ technology to enhance their teaching (Coates 2013, pp.9). It is due to these factors that the number of international students seeking education in Australia is increasing significantly. According to the studies carried out by the universities of Australia (Universities Australia 2013, pp.8), Australia is recognized internationally not only for its outstanding involvment in research, but also innovation. In support of this, the findings showed that the universities in Australia are in the forefront of Australia’s research as well as development efforts. In addition to this, the Australian Universities (2013, pp.7) argues that the universities, businesses and communities in Australia work towards ensuring that “the international competitiveness of Australia’s university system for teaching, learning, scholarship and research is maintained or enhanced” (Australian Universities (2013, pp.7). Methodology This part of the research paper will explain why the two methods, focus groups and interviews that were utilized in the collection of information. The choice of the two methods of research is because of their efficacy in collection adequate information necessary for drawing a good conclusion. Interviews According to Shrivastava and Valenzuela (2004, slide 2), an interview is a conservation with a purpose. The interview method enables the researcher to collect information about experiences of other people via direct questioning and talking because of its flexibility. There are different types of interviews for carrying out a research. This research paper however will use general interview guide approach and open-ended interview. The choice of the two interview methods is in relation to their efficacy in collection of information. The use of similar open-ended questions in interviewing all interviewees will not only facilitate faster interviews, but also lessen the work associated with analyzing and comparing the information collected through use of open-ended interview (Bradley & Harrell 2009, pp.117). The use of general interview guide on the other hand will enable the researcher to collect the same general areas of information from all the interviewee. The two interview methods, general interview guide and open-ended interview will be carried out in ten different universities so as to gather diverse views from students as well as staff members’ views about the quality of education offered to both local and international students. The terms of confidentiality, time for the interview and the information of the interviewer will be considered in carrying out the interview (Woods 2011,slide 9). Two methods will be used in recording data from the interviewees – note-taking and voice recording. The response of each student and staff member will be kept in a secure database only the investigator has access to for analysis and drawing of a conclusion. Since this method of collection of information is prone to some challenges such as the interviewees misunderstanding the topic, provocative interviewees, and communication barriers, the interviewer will observe the following: he will structure the procedure of the interview as well as use simple questions which are clear and understandable. The interviewer will also steer the course of the interview in order to combat digressions from the topic. In addition to this, the interviewer will provide interpretation of the interviewee’s information for the interviewee’s confirmation. Observance of these factors will not only enhance collection of quality information, but also create good relation between the interviewees and the interviewers. In using interview as the information collection method, the interviewer will also follow some procedures. In addition to occasionally verifying the workability of the tape recorder, the interviewer will ask the interviewee one question at a time (Shrivastava & Valenzuela 2004, slide 15). The interviewer will try to remain as neutral as possible in order to encourage responses when interviewing the interviewee (Lee 2012, pp.50). Apart from providing transition between main topics, the interviewer will take into consideration of the physical reaction of the interviewees when taking notes (Shrivastava & Valenzuela 2004, slide 15). The interviewer will make some notes on the written notes in addition to writing physical observations related to the interview. Focus groups According to Gibbs (2002, pp.3), focus group research is associated with organizing discussion with a specific group of persons to gather information about their views as well as experiences in a given topic. This method enables the researcher to gather diverse perspectives about the same research topic (Morgan 2013, pp.4). The benefits of this research method range from gaining insights into persons’ shared understanding of daily happenings to the influence people undergo in a group situation. These benefits make focus group a good method for collecting information about quality education offered to local and international students in Australian universities. The use of this method will not only enable the researcher to draw upon the respondents’ feelings and beliefs, but also their attitudes, experiences and reactions that will enhance the understanding of whether the Australian universities are well regulated in order to provide quality education to both local and international students. The use of this method however will depend significantly on a specific guide that will be followed in questioning 15 students in each group about their views about the research topic. The students will be given enough time to discuss as well as give their views about what they have experienced in their institutions over the years. This method will also be effective because it will take into consideration of different views of different students since students will find it hard to lie in presence of other students. The questions related to the research topic will be tabulated prior to the discussions. This will not only enhance a total inclusive of the intended questions, but also enhance total participation of all students to the discussion questions. All the drafted questions will be directed specifically to the topic of the research and discussions directed to the relevance of the study. To enhance the collection of quality information, neutral places in which all students can comfortably contribute will be chosen for the meeting of the selected groups. The selection of a neutral place such as open fields and new buildings to the students will not only reduce biasness associated with some buildings or site, but also provide each student in the group with safe platform for airing out their views. Additionally, the groups used for the study will be kept heterogeneous as much as possible. The inclusion of all genders in the group will enhance the collection of unbiased information regarding the research topic. Often, ladies are believed to be more sincere than gentlemen in providing personal information (Women in Business Series, 2012). Additionally, the members of each focus group will mainly include those with similar characteristics. The use of members with similar characteristics in a focus group will not only enhance the comfort of each participant, but also the collection of quality information. Students with similar characteristics feel free with each other, and as a result, air out their views comfortably. In addition to ensuring the members of each group have similar characteristics such as age, educational level, this method will involve use of moderators to uncover the connection between participants and ensuring the discussion falls within the boundaries of the related topic. The moderators will provide clear explanations of the importance of the group in addition to ensuring to helping the participants feel at ease (Gibbs 2002, pp.5). Additionally, the moderator will facilitate the interactions between group members. Apart from promoting the debate through asking open questions, the moderators will challenge the participants in order to draw out their differences as well as tease out different meanings on the research topic (Gibbs 2002, pp.5). Sampling Interview as well as focus group sampling will use theoretical sampling approach. University students from different universities in Australia will be used in carrying out the research. The participants of the research will entail those with broad understanding of the research topic. The selection of the university students for the research is in relation to the fact that they are the immediate persons who experience the impact of the Australian education system. A theoretical sampling approach entails sampling the participants of the research until the main theme of the study is achieved. This approach will be effective because the emphasis of the study is on the views of the university students. Participants of the study will be selected through channels of communication such as student unions and university networks. Importance of the research Australian universities should provide quality education to both local and international students by maintaining equal standards between local and international students before and after admission. This will ensure each student receive high quality education. The maintenance of the universities at equal standards such as utilizing both local and imported staff as well as treating both local and international students equally will make Australian universities to be perceived as some of the best universities in the world for pursue of education in higher institutions. This is in relation to the fact that local students and staff will feel acknowledged, and as a result participate in the promotion of their universities. In connection with this assertion, it is evident that this study will enhance the examination of the Australian institutions, which as a result will enhance provision of quality education to all students irrespective of their country of origin. The results of the research will also expose some of the factors such as language barrier and discrimination that challenge the education system in Australia. It will also expose how the high performance observed in the Australian education system is influenced by the education system of other nations which is provided by imported professionals as well as technical people. Additionally, the response from the interviewed students will assist in pointing out the challenges most international students experience in Australia. As a result of this, the research will enhance the adoption of equal-standard education system that will meet the expectations of local and international students (Midgley, Danaher & Baguley 2013, pp. 78). Conclusion The main aim of this research paper is to find out how Australian universities cultivated a conducive climate for the integration of local and international students. The literature review of the study shows that variation in cultural practices such as new environment and social groups pose great challenge to the academic progress as well as integration of the international students in Australia. The study will involve use of two methods, interviews and focus groups in the collection of information. The choice of the two methods is in relation to their efficacy in collection adequate information. The findings from the collections methods will be tabulated, analyzed, before conclusions are drawn. The research will be very important to the Australian education system because it will provide relevant information concerning the challenges the education system in Australia faces in providing education to both local and international students. Additionally, the result of the study will aid in coming up with an education system in Australia that will enhance the meeting the demands of both the local and international students in Australian education system. Reference list Bradley, M. & Harrell, M. (2009). Data Collection Methods: Semi-Structured Interviews and Focus Groups. National Defense Research Institute. Coates, H. et al. (2013). Profiling Diversity of Australian Universities. Research Briefing. Cross, J. (2006). Engaging Diversity At An Australian University: Chinese International Students Perceptions Of Their Social Experience While Studying In Australia. Forbes-Mewett, H. et al. (2007). Australian University International Student Finances. Gibbs, A. (2002). Focus Groups. Midgley, W., Danaher, P. & Baguley, M. (2013). The role of participants in education research. New York, NY: Routledge. Meyers, D. (2012). Australian Universities A Portrait of Decline. Morgan, D. (2013). Focus Groups as Qualitative Research: Planning and Research Design for Focus Groups. Sage Research Methods. Paton, M. (2007). Why International Students are at Greater Risk of Failure. The International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, communities 7 Nations. Shrivastava, P. & Valenzuela, D. (2004). Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research. Southern Cross University and the Southern Cross Institute of Action Research (SCIAR). Universities Australia. (2013). An Agenda for Australian Higher Education: 2013- 2016. Women in Business Series: Persuasion, Influence and Authenticity – Are Women More Genuine Than Men? 2012. Piblogger. Woods, M. (2011). Interviewing for Research and Analysing Qualitative Data: An Overview. overview Read More