Home and international students’ integration into engineering education: Intercultural competence in the curriculum

Other conference contribution, 2023

Academic and social integration is both important for student success in higher education and a challenge for the international university (Severiens et al., 2006). This mixed-method study uses the lens of two integration models to study the academic and social integration of a mixed group of Swedish and international students starting a master’s engineering program online (Tinto, 1975; Spencer-Oatey and Dauber, 2019). Both models make it clear that the responsibility for integration is not just the individual student’s, but also the structure around them. The students in the study worked in teacher-formed intercultural pairs.
The results highlighted factors which promoted integration and others which affected it negatively. Pair work was generally helpful though it hid a more challenging reality at times, for example with different academic experiences. This was circumvented by some through inventive ways of sharing tasks, problem solving together, and in some cases, going beyond the tasks to forming friendships with one another.
The high work pace and working online were more problematic. One clear finding was the work pressure all students were under. The combination of an international, problem-based learning, time limited, online setting contributed to the students feeling overwhelmed.
The study concludes that integration takes more time in an international, online environment but that teacher formed mixed nationality pair work can provide one way to bridge the academic – social divide experienced by many students in the international environment. At the same time, there can be greater challenges; therefore, it is important with pedagogical support.
Severiens, S., ten Dam, G., & Blom, S. (2006). Comparison of Dutch ethnic minority and majority engineering students: Social and academic integration. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 10(1), 75-89.
Spencer-Oatey, H., & Dauber, D. (2019). What is integration and why is it important for internationalization? A multidisciplinary review. Journal of studies in international education, 23(5), 515-534.
Tinto, V. (1975). Dropout from higher education: A theoretical synthesis of recent research. Review of educational research, 45(1), 89-125.