research issues related to international students and scholars peter briggs, director office for...
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Research Issues Related to International Students and Scholars
Peter Briggs, Director
Office for International Students and Scholars
Michigan State University
Today’s Topics
Set historical context Compare past overviews of research on
international students in the U.S. Case study on managing change
through data-driven decisions List some available resources Update from NAFSA’s Knowledge
Communities
History
Surprisingly, little change of issues over the years
Compared to study abroad, research is lacking
This can be a challenge for you
International Students in the U.S. 1930: 9,643 1959: 48,486 1974: 154,580 1982: 336,990 1994: 452,635 2008 is about 600,000
Overview of International Student Issues
Admissions, recruitment and retention Marketing strategies Preparation, ESL and academic support Adjustment, transition and counseling Social support issues Academic performance Attitudes of host nationals Legal issues are huge
Setting the Context: Shifting Across Paradigms 1945-1973: Post WW 2 Boom
• Paradigm was promoting development, democracy, concern for brain drain, roles of the guest and the host, students were often elites
• Government supports community programs/public diplomacy 1973-1989: OPEC, Iran and China
• Changes in U.S. dominance foster mutual learning model• Strong period of growth
1989-2001: End of Cold War and Business Model• Competing for brains/talent=innovation• Decline of government support for public diplomacy
2001 to present: 9/11 brings Security and Risk Paradigm• Iraq War brings new push for “soft power” public diplomacy
Common Perceptions of International Students Across the Paradigms Opportunities to promote international
understanding and cross cultural learning Foreign policy assets and making friends in the
world; educating world leaders, spreading democratic values
Students with special needs Top academic and research talent; keys to
innovation Economic exports Risks to national security
Growth of the FSA as a Profession Homer Higbee compared the status of foreign
student advising as a profession 1948, 1954, 1961, 1984• Percentage of time spent as an FSA• Place in the administrative hierarchy• Salaries• Functions performed• Number of support staff• Faculty status or not• Job satisfaction and perceptions of career potential
and peer recognition
Higbee Cont.
1948 there were 400 FSA’s in U.S. 1951 NAFSA conference …no consensus
on listing qualifications for FSA positions 1948, 70% had academic rank, by 1984,
less than 35% Decline of academic rank coincides with
recognition of specialization and dramatic increase in enrollments
Evaluation of Research on Educational Exchange 1962 report by Margaret Cormack
prepared for the U.S. Department of State. Findings:• Weakness of research lies in failure to explain
“what really happens to people” during exchanges
• Most studies are evaluations to determine pre-U.S. attitudes among foreign students to justify foreign policy aims of exchange
• Little attention paid to personality and behavior changes or what exchangees learn
Cormack Cont.
Report cited examples of gaps in existing research:• No data on special problems of women
• Scant data on alienation from one’s own culture
• Scant data on interaction between foreign and U.S. students
• Little data about cross-cultural learning in relation to academic fields
Cormack Report Gaps Cont.
Little is known about exchangees own educational backgrounds and social aims
No analysis for reasons for drop-outs No data on relationship between advanced
U.S. training and subsequent professional advancement in home country
No records available on grantees other than those sponsored by U.S. government
Cormack Cont.
Recommended research hypotheses to be examined:• Aptitude may be a better criteria for selection than
language• “task oriented” people have fewer adjustment problems
than “experience oriented” people• Younger exchangees experience greater change than
older ones• Pre-departure orientation is better spent on own culture
than alien culture• One year is too short and three years is too long for
successful readjustment
David Comp’s Recommendations for Research Today: Impact of religion on adjusting to new lifestyle Why students from different regions adapt to
the U.S. culture differently Average length or progress of adaptation or
acculturation in short term and long term programs
International students’ perceptions on U.S. culture
Why some students stay in the U.S. to further their education and why others leave
Recommendations Cont.
International students’ perceptions of gender (before studying abroad, during and after)
Effect of media and entertainment on international students’ culture shock
Influence that U.S. lifestyle has on worldview, traditional cultural values, and heritage of international students
Expectations and standards of international students from teachers and peers
Recommendations Cont.
Expectations from international students about their professors and of themselves
Stress/anxiety developed because of failing to meet their own standards of excellence
Review of how effectively international students’ needs are being met (or not)
Stigma of being a foreigner (possible factor in why international students mostly associate with other international students?)
Source of strength in coping skills
Annotated Bibliography of Research on International Students In U.S. http:webpages.charter.net/ktamblyn/
Bibliography.htm Kathryn Tamblin and David Comp,
University of Chicago
Comparing Overviews 40 years Apart In spite of spike in globalization and campus
internationalization issues, similar questions are still being asked
Is lack of progress related to decline in the number of FSA’s who hold academic rank?
Profession has been changing from adjustment based to compliance/risk management based
How are FSA’s valued in higher education? Mestenhauser question: Are FSA’s
professionals or just dedicated good guys? Who is paying attention to the big picture?
Case Study: University of Illinois (1996)
Office was responding to growth in enrollment; staff felt OISS was less personal
Needed data to help convince decision makers
Six page survey is long and comprehensive Received response rate of 21%; considered
to be “true sample” of UIUC international students
Illinois Case Study Cont.
Categories of assessment:• Student concerns
• Campus life
• International student office
Case Study Cont.
Impacts of research:• Improved outreach to other campus units
• Helped office argue for outside resources
• Helped adjust office resource allocation and revised publications/services
• Gave campus the image of OISS as on cutting edge of assessment
A Few Helpful Resources
Information clearinghouses Research based publications that include
international student perspectives Institute of International Education (IIE)
• Open Doors
• Atlas of Student Mobility
Resource for showing economic impact Recruitment and marketing data
Information Clearinghouses
Boston College: Center for International Higher Education• http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/ihec/
Centre for Applied Cross Cultural Research • http://www.victoria.ac.nz/cacr/
IIE
Open Doors; annual statistical report on student mobility• http://opendoors.iienetwork.org/
Project Atlas tracks migration trends of the millions of students who pursue education outside of their home countries each year. • http://atlas.iienetwork.org/
Research-based Publications that Include International Student Perspectives Journal of Studies in International
Education International Journal of Intercultural
Relations Journal of Global Initiatives Intercultural Press Assorted Blogs
Journal of Studies in International Education
Website: http://www.asie.org/journal.htm
International Journal of Intercultural Relations
http://www.interculturalacademy.org http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/
journaldescription.cws_home/535/description?navopenmenu=-2
Intercultural Press
http://www.interculturalpress.com/store/pc/home.asp
Journal of Global Initiatives
Website:http://www.kennesaw.edu/globalinstitute/journalofglobalinitiatives.htm
Useful Resource for Economic Analysis
Economic Impact of International Students in the U.S.• List total impact in U.S.
• Also lists impact by state
• http://www.nafsa.org/public_policy.sec/international_education_1/eis_2007
Recruitment and Marketing Information
Allison Doorbar, JWT Education• Author: Student decision making - the Asian
student survey and transnational education research
• http://www.britishcouncil.org/eumd-events-training-asian-student-of-2005-review.htm
New Comprehensive Resource from UK
Teaching in Transnational Higher Education
Examines current trends and challenges that face students, teachers and institutions of higher education around the globe.
Published by: Routledge, March 2008 Edited by Michelle Wallace, Lee Dunn
Blogs
Changing Higher Education• http://www.changinghighereducation.com
Global Higher Education• http://globalhighered.wordpress.com
Hedda Blog• http://stan.uio.no/blog/flexlearn/
Inside Higher Education’s Blog U• http://insidehighered.com/views/blogs
Japan Higher Education Outlook• http://japanheo.blogspot.com
Update from KCTLS
University of Minnesota project to analyze literature on international students and scholars
Plan to review:• Themes
• Countries
• Messages
KCTLS Cont.
Research Questions:• What are the critical issues identified in the literature
(internationalization, recruitment, access, barriers to students coming to U.S.)?
• What is being studied, how and why (certain populations? Certain fields of study? Certain measures?)?
• What is not being studied/written about? What is missing in the literature?
• Has there been a shift regarding questions over time?
Update on KCISSS
Summer 2007 Retreat to look at direction profession is going
Interesting update on Higbee’s work Practical application is to connect trends
and issues to NAFSA’s strategic plan Developed six special initiatives to
guide next five years http://www.nafsa.org/
knowledge_community_network.sec/international_student_3
KCISSS Initiatives
Re-articulate the core skills and values of the ISSS profession in light of the emerging trends in international education
Promote the social integration of international students on their campuses and in their communities
Develop a service package that prepares ISSS professional in facilitating short-term participation in U.S. educational institutions by international students and scholars
More KCISSS Initiatives
Promote strategies to bring economically disadvantaged students to the U.S. in an affordable way, especially those from underrepresented or developing countries
Demonstrate the value of the ISSS professional
Equip ISSS managers to more effectively handle the day-to-day demands and running of the modern ISSS office
Questions? Answers?