Academic and adaptation challenges faced by international students: A case study of MUET, Jamshoro

Abstract

The present study aimed at exploring how academic and adaptation challenges affect the lives of international students at a public-sector university of Sindh i.e. Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro. It was a case study and ten international undergraduate students were treated as ten different cases. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from each of them. The transcribed interviews were then analyzed thematically. The findings suggested that the foreign students in MUET, Jamshoro faced both academic and adaptation challenges. These included, English language problems in terms of their inability to understand lectures if English is not the medium of instruction, difficulty surviving in the new environment due to uncommon language between them and the locals, all of which lead to identity shift and social stigma. So, teachers should make sure they cater to the needs of both national and international students. Once, the issue of medium of instruction will be sorted, the students’ learning experience will be remarkable. They will have time to focus on their studies, after that they will gradually learn Urdu which will help them survive and adjust in their new social and academic environment. These students have to invest in learning a new language, improving English, and adapting to the host environment by all means.

Keywords, Adaptation, Academic, English Language, MUET, challenges.

DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/83-07

Publication date: November 30^th 2021