An analysis of the adjustment problems of international students in a South African university
Dzansi, Dennis Yao
English: The literature on international student adjustment problem is replete with studies done in universities in the West. This skews the understanding of the international student adjustment phenomenon in favour of developed countries at the expense of the less developed ones and thus creates an obvious gap in the student adjustment literature. The purpose of this study was to fill this apparent gap by exploring the nature of adjustment problems encountered by international students at the Central University of Technology (CUT), a typical developing world university, located in Bloemfontein, in the Free State Province of South Africa. The empirical study was preceded by an extensive literature survey that led to the conclusion that while international students’ adjustment problems are numerous and similar in many respects, they differ significantly across countries, and according to a number of demographic factors. This means that in part, adjustment problems are contextual. The implication is that any wholesale use of existing measurement instruments that were specifically designed for Western country conditions would be inappropriate for use in the South African context. Consequently, a custom made measurement instrument was developed for this study. Validity and reliability issues that naturally emerge with custom made instruments were thoroughly dealt with. Among others, the empirical investigation revealed that: 1. International students at CUT encounter many adjustment problems. 2. International students at CUT regard their adjustment experiences as problematic. 3. The adjustment problems of international students at CUT differ significantly according to country/region of origin, age, and gender of students. The study identified the following as the ten most difficult adjustment problems international students at CUT have to contend with in their order of difficulty starting with the most difficult to the least difficult: 1. High cost of living in South Africa 2. Cost of food 3. Cost of health insurance 4. Getting visa extensions 5. Feel comfortable visiting immigration office 6. Work restrictions 7. Becoming a citizen of South Africa 8. Understanding immigration rules 9. Sufficiency of funds to meet expenses The study raises issues which, if attended to, could help ameliorate adjustment problems international students encounter at CUT. The expectation is that, by reducing the number and severity of adjustment problems, international students would live in harmony with their educational and social environment at CUT. This in turn would make CUT very attractive to international students.
Afrikaans: Die literatuur oor die internasionale studente-aanpassingsprobleem wemel van studies wat aan universiteite in die Weste gedoen is. Dit beteken dat enige begrip van die internasionale studente-aanpassingsverskynsel skeefgetrek is ten gunste van die ontwikkelde lande ten koste van die minder ontwikkelde state. Dit skep ‘n ooglopende leemte in die literatuur oor studente-aanpassing. Die doel van hierdie studie was om dié oënskynlike leemte te vul deur ondersoek in te stel na die aard van aanpassingsprobleme soos ervaar deur internasionale studente aan die Sentrale Universiteit vir Tegnologie (SUT), ‘n tipiese ‘derde wêreld’-universiteit geleë in Bloemfontein in die Vrystaat Provinsie in Suid-Afrika. Die empiriese studie is voorafgegaan deur ‘n omvattende literatuuroorsig, wat gelei het tot die gevolgtrekking dat hoewel internasionale studente talle aanpassingsprobleme ervaar wat in baie opsigte onderling soortgelyk is, daar tog in hierdie verband beduidende verskille oor lande heen en op grond van ‘n aantal demografiese faktore voorkom. Dit beteken dat aanpassingsprobleme gedeeltelik kontekstueel van aard is. Die implikasie is dat enige algemene gebruik van bestaande metingsinstrumente wat spesifiek vir Westerse lande ontwerp is, nie toepaslik vir gebruik in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks sou wees nie. Gevolglik is ‘n pasgemaakte meetinstrument vir hierdie studie ontwikkel. Kwessies wat verband hou met geldigheid en betroubaarheid, wat vanselfsprekend betrekking het op pasgemaakte instrumente, is op ‘n deeglike wyse hanteer. Die empiriese ondersoek het onder andere die volgende aangetoon: 4. Internasionale studente by die SUT ervaar baie aanpassingsprobleme. 5. Internasionale studente by die SUT beskou hulle aanpassingservarings as problematies. 6. Die aanpassingsprobleme van internasionale studente aan die SUT verskil beduidend, afhangende van die land/streek van herkoms, ouderdom en geslag van studente. Die studie het die volgende tien aanpassingsprobleme geïdentifiseer as die moeilikste waarmee internasionale studente aan die SUT worstel. Hulle word hieronder van baie moeilik na minder moeilik gerangskik: 10. Hoë lewenskoste in Suid-Afrika 11. Hoë voedselpryse 12. Koste van gesondheidsversekering 13. Verlenging van visas 14. Besoeke aan immigrasiekantore 15. Werkbeperkings 16. Pogings om ‘n burger van Suid-Afrika te word 17. Pogings om immigrasiereëls te verstaan 18. Fondse om uitgawes te dek Hierdie studie plaas die soeklig op kwessies wat indien dit aandag sou kry, ‘n bydrae sou kon lewer om die aanpassingsprobleme wat internasionale studente aan die SUT ervaar, effektief aan te spreek. Die verwagting is dat ‘n afname in die aantal en graad van erns van aanpassingsprobleme dit vir internasionale studente moontlik sou maak om in harmonie met die opvoedkundige en sosiale omgewing by die SUT te leef. Op sy beurt sou dit die SUT baie aanloklik vir internasionale studente maak.