Research Issues Related to International Students and Scholars

Peter Briggs, Director

Office for International Students and Scholars

Michigan State University

pbriggs@msu.edu

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

• Allison.doorbar@jwt.com

• 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?