ABSTRACT
Graduate education, especially at the doctoral level, provides students with opportunities to learn, grow, and gain independence as scholars, as well as gives rise to a certain degree of stress. The stress level that the program itself generates as a matter of course scales up with additional challenges for some graduate students, including deficient academic engagement or, in some cases, poor relationships with their supervisors. Other additional stressors can be counted, like a reverted work-life balance, financial difficulties, a lack of permanent employment, the pressure to publish in high-impact journals and participate in conferences or congresses, and the feeling of an uncertain future. This chapter is a collaborative autoethnographic study seeking to explore the authors experiences as international doctoral students leading transnational lives in Canada. They are three international Turkish, Chinese, and Vietnamese doctoral students in a Joint Ph.D. in Educational Studies program at a Canadian university. Acknowledging the diverse demographic backgrounds-including gender, race, ethnicity, and class-the chapter aims to situate the collaboration in a critical discussion on different challenges the authors faced and resources they used while learning and sustaining doctoral studies amidst a global crisis, which are emerging themes in their findings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
International graduate students have endured unique obstacles during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored the experiences of eight international graduate students from various countries and academic backgrounds. The following questions guided this study: (1) What were the experiences during the 2020 school year for international students throughout COVID-19?;(2) What were the day-to-day experiences of international graduate students during COVID-19?, and (3) How did the international graduate students cope and adjust as they lived through a pandemic? Analysis of the data demonstrated the impact on the international graduate students' preconceived expectations of the academic and socio-cultural experiences, as well as their overall quality of life. This study also indicated that international graduate students are in fact resilient and are willing to succeed regardless of the challenges they encounter. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Although Asian international graduate students (AIGS) were at risk for mental health problems during the pandemic, little is known about the experience of international students during COVID-19. This study aimed to examine the experiences of AIGS who lived in the United States during COVID-19. METHOD: This qualitative descriptive study included 22 participants from five large universities in Philadelphia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted during September and October 2020, and a thematic analysis was used for data analyses. RESULTS: Three themes were found: (a) "We are left alone here": Being an international student; (b) "Stay busy" and "Do something": Being a graduate student; and (c) "I have a wish": Seeking for support, perceived support, and preferred counseling services as a self-advocator. DISCUSSION: Help is needed for AIGS to navigate uncertainties, provide proper coping skills, make efforts against anti-Asian racism, and provide culturally based mental health resources.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Racism , Humans , United States , Pandemics , Students/psychology , AsianABSTRACT
International graduate students have endured unique obstacles during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored the experiences of eight international graduate students from various countries and academic backgrounds. The following questions guided this study: (1) What were the experiences during the 2020 school year for international students throughout COVID-19?;(2) What were the day-to-day experiences of international graduate students during COVID-19?, and (3) How did the international graduate students cope and adjust as they lived through a pandemic? Analysis of the data demonstrated the impact on the international graduate students' preconceived expectations of the academic and socio-cultural experiences, as well as their overall quality of life. This study also indicated that international graduate students are in fact resilient and are willing to succeed regardless of the challenges they encounter. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
University officials are interested in retaining and successfully graduating current students and recruiting future international graduate students. Accommodating the transition of international graduate students into their new communities and promoting their well-being requires an understanding of their needs. A rich research base has shown outdoor orientation programs to be of value for domestic undergraduate students. However, little is known about the successful use of outdoor orientation programs to foster a sense of belonging among international graduate students. No previous study has explored the outdoor recreation participation of international graduate students, the impact of their participation on their Sense of belonging, or their interests in an outdoor orientation program. The purposes of this study were to develop a measure to test international graduate students' Sense of belonging and investigate their interest in an outdoor orientation program.A mixed-methods research design (quantitative survey and qualitative focus group) was employed to understand the perspectives of international graduate students enrolled at Michigan State University (MSU). All (n=1819) international graduate students enrolled as full-time students were recruited to participate in the online survey. A total of 319 students responded to the survey, yielding a 17.54% response rate. Survey respondents were invited to participate in a focus group. Of those 319 respondents, 22 participated in one of six focus groups.Phase one explored international graduate students' Sense of belonging in their department and the MSU campus community, based upon McMillian and Chavis' (1986) Sense of Community Theory. Exploratory factor analysis identified three factors in the new Sense of Belonging measure: university connection, department acceptance, and department connection. Females had significantly higher scores in department acceptance. There were significant differences between cultural groups in university connection and SCI subscales of shared emotional connection and influence and difference in departmental acceptance between females and other genders. Participants showed more interest in outdoor activities such as picnicking, barbequing, enjoying the river scenery, and taking walks. Students who took part in specific MSU activities, such as registered MSU student organizations, had significantly higher scores in all three Sense of Belonging factors than students who did not do those activities.Phase two examined students' transitional experiences into studying at an MSU, what outdoor activities were of interest to international graduate students, and their recommendations on designing an outdoor orientation program. Results showed that some participants struggled to adjust to lifestyles and cultures while balancing their academics and personal life events. Focus group participants were interested in social events throughout the calendar year. Additionally, they indicated an interest in non-traditional outdoor orientation program activities such as hosting campus tours, picnics, game nights, and coffee-hour gatherings. Recommendations are provided for outdoor orientation programming to reduce the challenges faced by international graduate students and build students' relations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)