Challenges Faced by International Students: A Case Study of Jambi’s Institute of Higher Learning

Abstract

Although there have been many studies investigating international students, many of them focused on the students who travel in pursuit of higher education in English countries and/or universities. This current qualitative study is intended to explore the experiences of international students, particularly the challenges, and strategies to deal with the challenges and the culture shock while studying in Jambi, Indonesia. In order to collect the data, a semi-structured interview was employed and guided by an interview protocol to stimulate the participants in answering the questions during the interview. The participants of this study were nine international students who studied at one public university in Jambi. Through thematic analysis, we found that international students faced some challenges living and studying in Jambi, such as language issues, academic issues, individual issues, and living style and related issues. To overcome the challenges, international students employed two main strategies, including self-management strategies and seeking help. Moreover, although the culture of international students is quite similar to the culture of the hosting country, we identified a lack of foreigner sense and physical contact as the culture shocks experienced by one international student. Looking at the challenges and culture shocks experienced by international students, this study suggests that preparation is crucial for prospective international students before pursuing their studies overseas.

Understanding International Students’ Academic Adaptation and Motivation to Pursue Higher Education in Turkey

“…These challenges include language barriers, cultural differences, discrimination, and financial stress (Park, 2016;Şeker, 2020;Tuan, 2020;Wenyan et al, 2023). Furthermore, many researchers (e.g., Beregovaya & Kudashov, 2019;Kurum & Erdemli, 2021;Radmard, 2017;San & Guo, 2022;Smith, 2020;Wachyunni et al, 2023;Xiaoying et al, 2023) have highlighted the formidable challenges associated with acclimating to an unfamiliar cultural and academic environment, especially when the language of instruction is not one's native tongue. In such instances, international students may struggle to assimilate into the university community and access support services.…”

“…Previous studies have extensively explored the academic adaptation of international students worldwide, encompassing various regions such as Asian countries (Arief & Melati, 2017;Jang, 2018;Wachyunni et al, 2023), China (Hussain & Shen, 2019;San & Guo, 2022;Sheng et al, 2022;Wenyan et al, 2023), African countries (Owusu-Agyeman & Mugume, 2023), European countries (Campos et al, 2022;Yildirim et al, 2021), Russia (Beregovaya & Kudashov, 2019), and the United States (Park, 2016;Tutar, 2023). The overarching goal of these global studies was to discern patterns and identify gaps in understanding the academic adaptation of international students across diverse countries.…”

“…While international students pursuing education abroad experience cultural understanding, personal and academic growth, and improved language skills, they also face challenges such as language barriers, academic difficulties, and cultural adjustment issues (Dou et al, 2023;Gokpinar-Shelton & Pike, 2022;Singh, 2018;Wenyan et al, 2023). Despite challenges, the number of international students globally has surged, reflecting trends in economic, social, and educational globalization (Giacon, n.d.; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD], 2012; Wachyunni et al, 2023). Forbes-Mewett (2011) emphasize the importance of thorough preparation for prospective international students, highlighting the critical issue of adaptation to a new academic environment, culture, and social norms.…”