Experiences of International Students Studying in a Foreign University - Essay Example

Marketing Research Proposal to analyse the experiences of international studying in a foreign University: Thesis: Studying abroad to study gives a lot of exposure and different experiences, in terms of new culture, political pressure, food and language. Though many of the students might get prepared to adjust with the changes, yet the problem of partial adequacy to the new place, culture and language remains there. That is the students go about with a level of adjustment with a quiet unfamiliar social and academic environment with reference to Massey University as part of a work done for Wellington Research Council. Abstract: Students who travel abroad for further studies experience with different situations which begin from the nature of learning, teaching, cultural influences, restrictions, language barriers etc. The point is how do they manage with such a surrounding?, while conducting a marketing research it becomes quiet clear that culture, language, and food are the major problems, if the University in which the residential students study take steps to bring expected arrangements, these inconveniences will get reduced. The student’s opinion plays a key role in analysing the issues. In accordance with these issues The Wellington Research Council has decided to run business catering to the needs of the Massey University Programs and the overseas students who participate in that, so with the intention to make their business successful the marketing research method has been chosen. A marketing research will best suit for this dissertation because, a marketing research involves the evaluation of collected information, and help us in selecting or choosing a considerable solution to the problem undertaken. This research is done with particular focus on the Massey University Programs and the students of the above University. The study also have many things reviewed, they are the difficulties faced by residential students in managing with the unfamiliar social and political atmosphere, the adjustment issues in spite of the existing disparities and to facilitate the administration of the Universities to assist the students to get by the discrepancies. A survey was undertaken by preparing questionnaires for students who have come form other countries or overseas, based on the responses given, the conclusion was considered that though they might be exposed to a varying atmosphere, they develop a sense of open mindedness towards accepting the diversities and difficulties. But the question of adjustment with a complete convenience remains. Introduction: The concept of living in a cross cultural surrounding is increasing a lot, particularly among the student community who travel to other country for their studies. The problems they face are estimated by means of how much they adjust. This is what the lecturers feel towards every residential student. The survey is conducted with attention to the students of Massey University and Victoria University. Going abroad and studying for nay student needs the ability to incorporate with a novel system of academic as well as social life. As the students have certain problem to cope up with till they complete their studies successfully. The problems are learning or communicating in a new language, living through a new social make up, new political conditions, organisational rules and restrictions etc. If this goes in a normal fashion in any country for instance, the expectation which every student develops remains the same. Some of the expectations are for a better social relationship, and the way of teaching. Methodology: This dissertation involves both qualitative and quantitative research methods. To carry out the method the steps involved are combining both the research methods. Reasons for selecting so 1. A quantitative research design is based on what has been already commented or talked over. In other words it involves a deductive approach to a pre existing hypothesis. As far as this dissertation is concerned the Wellington Research Council, insisted on the idea to find out the exact adjustment issues sustaining among the overseas students. Based on the survey they might bring in more changes like implementing easy and effective means of communication, participation chances for overseas students in co-curricular activities etc. The problem was pointed out by the teaching professionals working in Massey and Victoria Universities in the Wellington city. 2. Where as a qualitative analyses a constant comparison is applied in order to make the readers understand clearly the problems of the target group, or the specific area of study. Based on the notion of the these two types of designs it becomes quiet clear that this adjustment issue in all walks of life of the students need to be analysed in terms of comparison of the native students and the overseas, and also making a comparison between how do they feel studying at their home town and abroad. Selection of Research designs: The research design includes both exploratory and descriptive designs. The reasons for selecting these designs are that 1. The exploratory design contains process of exploring the facts about the pre-existing hypo thesis. This will be very much helpful for quantitative or deductive method of researching. 2. As far as this dissertation is concerned, the adjustment issues remains in many parts of the world, but what has been done so far to reduce the effect of loneliness by the respective organisations have to be explored. 3. The problems and the adjustment criteria faced by the overseas students, in terms of language, food, financial support, social relationship etc. are also explored. 4. The interviews conducted with the overseas students are analysed by means of detailed description. A description will better serve the readers to identify the exact position of the problem. 5. Each problem is discussed clearly by a neat description. A descriptive design will be best suitable for qualitative analysis. So a combination of both exploratory and descriptive research design will go hand with hand if quantitative and qualitative research method is taken respectively. Contact Methods: The contact methods includes [i] focus group discussion and [ii] indepth interviews, [iii] Telephone, mail and internet surveys and [iv]. Mall intercepts. Analysis of the selection of contact methods in detail: [i] a focus group will contain questions ranging from 10-15, with particular concentration over the target group. A focus group discussion will help in arranging the target group to participate and share their answers. Above all the focus group discussion will help the researcher to identify what questions should be focused to which target group etc. This contact methods gives importance to time factor, so a time and location was fixed to conduct the discussion. The benefited would have a better exposure to the issue. [indepth interviews: “In-depth, qualitative interviews are excellent tools to use in planning and evaluating Extension programs. An in-depth interview is an open-ended, discovery-oriented method that is well suited for describing both program processes and outcomes from the perspective of the target audience or key stakeholder.” Says University of Florida. [2006] . As far as this dissertation is concerned indepth interviews will help the qualitative research style in finding out the perspectives of the target group. [iii]. Telephone, mail and internet surveys: this will also give an exploratory research effect resulting in direct communication with senior and the fresh candidates of the respective universities. Through mails, students who do not want to express their views directly can freely commit their views. Internet facilities will enhance the speed of the research and time saving. [iv]. This is another type of contact method where the researcher will find out the target group outside the place of research, that is either in a shopping mall, or park , or restaurants etc. This dissertation is based on communication issues also, so a mall intercepts is generally required to find out from the overseas students how do they manage while go out for shopping. This method also helps the researcher to find out from the target group whether they are willing to participate in the survey or not. Evaluating Sampling strategies: This involves selection of the samples form the over all population, the samples for this dissertation includes overseas students. Since a sample is part of a population, only with particular reference to random selection of samples can do with the research styles. The students of Wellington city are the population and the overseas students of Massey and Victoria Universities are the samples. The strategy is achieved by balancing the probability and nonprobabiltiy of the samples. That is looking into the sampling frame whether equal or expected probability level has been achieved or not. Interviews should be conducted among both the probability and the non probability samples to analyse if there lies any coincidence of opinion among the two sample. The non probability samples are included if there comes a problem where it becomes difficult to achieve the result from the probability samples. Minimizing Sources of Error: It is the process of maintaining the percentage of the results of the hypothesis, if not exactly but not with more than 5% difference. The error in sampling should lie within the margin. As far as this dissertation is concerned sampling error was not found. A random sample is selected and interviewed. For example a 24 year Arabian male , studying second year was selected and interviewed . This focus group will help in conveying their feeling towards the situation. While collecting and analysing the data it will become very clear that what kind of problems students generally adjust with and how they could be rectified at least to a considerable level. The data should be transferred to the organisational department of the respected universities so that they will make arrangements to bring in changes, like arranging easy and frequent mode of communication between the students and their families. Results: The result of the questionnaire show that the students who come form overseas generally have a certain kind of expectation, as they will be introduced in from of a new world where he or she is forced by circumstances to learn a new language other than the academic innovations, need to live in a new social background, try to support himself or herself with the permitted but limited financial aid. This happens in most of the students who come from a moderate family with moderate financial background. Chances of excitement might end in stress, if he or she does not fit with the new cultural background. Most of the overseas students replied that they develop a tendency to adjust with what ever new they face. The English language is quiet difficult to cope with the indigenous accent. Some would like to find job here and settle. As per the expectation of the Wellington City Council the students feel comfortable by the communication facitilities that are made available through the organisation of the University. It becomes quiet clear that if students could afford their fee to complete their studies and if they could feel free with the teachers, provided they are given ample chances to communicate easily with their family members they will not be any issue on adjustment. Read More