Authors: Alper Idrisoglu, Saleh Javadi
Abstract:
The process of internationalising higher education brings about numerous benefits f or t eaching a nd l earning activities. It fosters an extensive exchange of information that extends beyond national borders. Nonetheless, achieving an acceptable standard of quality to meet the expectations of international students necessitates diligent feedback and inquiry to comprehend and address their experiences effectively. This work's primary objective is to investigate international students experiences, focusing on factors that can influence t h eir a c ademic pursuits, including learning activities, learning environment, academic collaboration and social integration at a higher education institute in Sweden. This study employs a quantitative analysis methodology to examine anonymous surveys completed by a group of international students at our university. The gathered data were classified i n to t h ree d i stinct c a tegories a n d subjected to separate analyses within each category. The findings suggest that the expectations of international students are met mainly regarding learning activities, receiving the highest score. However, challenges were observed in the learning environment, especially with regard to academic collaboration and social integration with domestic students. Recommendations for improvement include promoting social integration, enhancing academic collaboration, improving information dissemination, and establishing partnerships with the municipality to ensure better accommodation. These findings offer valuable insights for our university and other institutions striving to enhance international students' educational quality and overall experience.