Factors Affecting International Students’ Perception of Their Academic Learning Experiences at Northeast Normal University China

Abstract

With the increasing number of international students travelling to well-developed countries for higher education, such as the China, there has been a growing interest in exploring the factors that influence their academic performance and academic learning experiences during their overseas studies. This study aims to give an insight into international students’ perceptions of academic learning experiences.

A quantitative approach was employed to gain a better understanding of international graduate students' perceptions of their academic learning experiences at Northeast Normal University.

The sample comprised 87 international students, 44 Master and 43 doctoral from four schools:

Education 32, Life Sciences29, Economics15 and Chemistry11. A structured questionnaire, the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) served as the main instrument for quantitative data collection.Three (3) sampling techniques were used in this study: purposive sampling, stratified sampling and simple random sampling. A five-point Lickert scale (1= Strongly disagree; 2= Disagree; 3= Unsure; 4= Agree; 5= Strongly agree) was involved in the questionnaire instrument. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0.Findings indicate that students rate most aspects of their programs positively, although few respondents give the highest ratings, indicating that there is substantial room for improvement. International students’ majors and length of stay in China influenced perceptions about the learning environment.

Keywords: Factors Affecting, International students, perceptions, Academic learning experience.