04. Graduate School of Education

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Browsing 04. Graduate School of Education by Author "Ismailzhanova, Rozaoy"

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    UNDERSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS EXPERIENCES, CHALLENGES, AND COPING STRATEGIES AT EMI UNIVERSITIES IN KAZAKHSTAN
    (Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Education, 2024) Ismailzhanova, Rozaoy
    Understanding Undergraduate International Students Experiences, Challenges, and Coping Strategies at an EMI University in Kazakhstan The globalization of higher education (HE) has led to a rise in the number of international students globally, including in Kazakhstan. Despite their crucial role in the internationalization of HE, there is a noticeable scarcity of research on the experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of international students in Kazakhstan. To close this gap, phenomenological research was carried out at two English-medium instruction (EMI) universities in Kazakhstan, which are well-known for having substantial numbers of international students. Seven participants from various countries studying in Kazakhstan participated in semi-structured interviews to discuss their experiences, difficulties, and coping mechanisms for overcoming obstacles. The results, which are presented through Lyysgards' (1955) U-Curve theory used as a conceptual framework, show that although the participants had good experiences that they attributed to the friendly atmosphere of the university and the local community, they also faced considerable challenges and employed number of coping strategies. These challenges are related to adaptation to new academic environments and curricula, linguistic challenges, and socio-cultural adjustments. Students employed several strategies to cope with these issues, including leveraging university resources, engaging in social activities, practicing the local language, and seeking personal space. The study's findings highlight the need for a comprehensive support system that integrates institutional support for international students through which they could attract many international students and enhance students’ experiences at their university. This study offers valuable insight into the particular difficulties foreign students face in Kazakhstan and offers practical solutions that stakeholders in education could consider. From this qualitative study, areas for further research are suggested. Keywords: international students, Kazakhstan, EMI Universities, experiences, challenges, coping strategies, phenomenological study.