Valuing Cultural Diversity in International Education

Since 1980s, the number of international students studying in Australian universities has increased rapidly, and their experiences of studying in Australia are seldom smooth transitions. They face a range of challenges including social, financial, academic and personal ones, there is also the added challenge of adjusting culturally; this book is primarily concerned with the cultural challenges. The author was once an international student, and now lectures in an Australian university. This study explores from the students'' perspective the academic adjustment experiences of international students from Chinese cultural backgrounds. Individual interviews were conducted. The book documents the academic experiences of the cohort of students studied, focusing on the significant cultural factors; and discusses the emerging patterns, processes of the adjustment, strategies for future students to adjust well. The analysis should help to appreciate the cultural and educational aspects on international students'' adjustment, and should be especially useful to academics, administrators and international students, or anyone else who may be interested in the welfare of international students.