Universities misinterpret the factors that imbue international students with a sense of belonging, an Australian study suggests.
Researchers have found that foreign students feel “more integrated” in their host universities if they can picture a successful future in their host country.
The team surveyed 175 overseas students at Charles Darwin University’s Sydney campus, asking 42 questions about their experiences in Australia. The probe covered issues like happiness, confidence, loneliness, mental health, family support, stress, financial pressures, language barriers, study habits, academic engagement and career plans.
The researchers then used “explainable” artificial intelligence – a form of machine learning that helps users understand the rationale underpinning the bots’ pronouncements – to tease out the most influential issues.
Students’ expectations of future happiness in Australia – rather than immediate issues like social support or English coaching – turned out to be the most important contributors to their sense of integration. Pivotal factors included their confidence in achieving their career goals, appraisal of their own study and time-management skills, and anticipation of prejudices that could impede their success.
