Ready, Willing, and Able? Exploring the Relationships and Experiences of International Students at a Federal University in the United Arab Emirates

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

International Student Mobility to and from the Middle East: Theorising Public, Institutional, and Self-Constructions of Cross-Border Students

Publication Date

1-1-2022

Abstract

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a young and diverse country that has experienced increased international student enrolment in recent years. This empirical, descriptive study examined the experiences of international students at a federal higher education institution in the UAE through the lens of the intergroup contact theory. Research questions focused on interactions with national students, adjustment to college, and institutional support. Surveys of 126 students found that national and international students desired more connections and overall had positive perceptions of each other. Some of the main international student barriers to adjustment and engagement related to language or cultural differences, and they felt generally supported on campus by faculty and staff but desired more intentional structured outside-of-the-classroom programs. This chapter offers a unique contribution by exploring the experiences, assumptions, and constructions of international students who study in a federal institution in a highly diverse country context.

ISBN

9781000554151,9780367686581

Publisher

Routledge

First Page

152

Last Page

176

Disciplines

Education

Keywords

International students, Adjustment, Experiences

Scopus ID

85140506272

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

Link to Full Text

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