Spencer-Oatey, Helen, Dauber, Daniel, Jing, Jing and Lifei, Wang (2017) Chinese students’ social integration into the university community : hearing the students’ voices. Higher Education, 74 (5). pp. 739-756. doi:10.1007/s10734-016-0074-0 ISSN 0018-1560.

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Abstract

According to UNESCO statistics, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) sends far more students to study overseas than any other country in the world. Similarly, from the receiving countries’ point of view, PRC students form by far the highest proportion of international students. In many respects, this is a success story, but it also poses a number of risks to universities. This paper focuses on one of those key risks that of student dissatisfaction (including from PRC students themselves). Using a sequential mixed-method study, it addresses two research questions: (a) Chinese students’ level of satisfaction with their social integration into the university community and (b) the barriers that Chinese students’ perceive in becoming more socially integrated into the university student community. The research finds that many Chinese students are dissatisfied with their range of friendships and that they find it more challenging to socialise with students of other nationalities than other students do. They point out a number of barriers to integration, with cultural distance playing a major role, but also argue for the impact of individual factors. The paper concludes by considering the implications for universities and suggestions for further research.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Centre for Applied Linguistics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Chinese students -- Foreign countries, Motivation in education
Journal or Publication Title:	Higher Education
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
ISSN:	0018-1560
Official Date:	November 2017
Dates:	Date Event November 2017 Published 22 November 2016 Available 29 October 2016 Accepted
Volume:	74
Number:	5
Page Range:	pp. 739-756
DOI:	10.1007/s10734-016-0074-0
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access (Creative Commons)
Date of first compliant deposit:	25 November 2016
Date of first compliant Open Access:	28 November 2016

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