Current Climate in Higher Education: Perceptions of International Students in the Philippines

Abstract

One of the major effects of globalization is the heavy migration all over the world in the past two to three decades. For different purposes related to job, studies, security, religious freedom or other social reasons, millions of people are moving on a yearly basis from a country or continent to another. Students in need of better quality or maybe cheaper higher education are traveling to foreign lands and staying there for four, six, eight, or even more years. They learn from and with people of different cultures, religion, race, and worldviews. Given that globalization has pushed the phenomenon of diversity on most university campuses, it is important for higher education institutions to promote and guarantee equity, diversity, and inclusiveness for all students without distinction of culture, gender, religion, or race. The current study is a survey of the climate of higher education in several higher education institutions with considerable number of international students in the Luzon region of the Philippines. The study aimed at investigating the discriminatory practices that are common in schools that hosts international students. Results revealed that, even though there are areas where international students expressed feeling discriminated against, the climate in higher education institutions is positive for most international students.Keywords: Higher education, social studies, international students, discrimination,quantitative research, survey, Luzon, Philippines, Asia

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“…Just as indicated by Wa-Mbaleka and Gaikwad (2013), it takes years of learning to master a new language. Some of the participants spent more than six months at the university's English Center before they could begin their actual graduate or doctoral program.…”

“…They learn English while taking history, instead of having to learn English first before taking the other subjects taught in English. The good news is that, no matter how hard a language may seem, learning a new language is not an impossible task for international students (Wa-Mbaleka & Gaikwad, 2013).…”

“…English language proficiency is something that international students cannot achieve overnight. It takes years of learning to master a new language (Saville-Stroike, 2012;Wa-Mbaleka & Gaikwad, 2013). Immigrant status and language barriers have given explanation on cultural/ethnic disparities (Avila & Bramlett, 2013).…”

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