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Introduction to University Studies : Studying the Perspectives of International First Year Students
Villikka, Denise (2012)
Villikka, Denise
Arcada - Nylands svenska yrkeshögskola
2012
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201205025696
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201205025696
Tiivistelmä
Developing ways to identify and support students as they are transitioning into university studies (transition pedagogy) has been the focus of much research and continues to be an important factor in maintaining a healthy academic environment. This thesis explores the following questions. First, what types of challenges or questions do students have during their transition? Second, what perceptions or expectations do students have with regard to university studies? Third, what are the different types of support mediums and conditions that lead to student success? To help answer these questions, self-completion questionnaires and face-to-face interviews have been utilized. The setting is a university campus located in Helsinki, Finland. The subjects are freshman international students. A focused sample of sixty-four students volunteered to participate out of a possible eighty-nine students. (Overall participation rate = 72%) The methodological approach used in this paper is mainly qualitative with some quantitative elements. At first glance, the overall satisfaction rates among students are reported high. However, studying students’ perspectives through open-ended questions and interviews seems to generate more in-depth data as to the “true” feelings of students. For example, some students voice feelings of confusion and disorientation while others seem to focus on the importance of quickly establishing relationships with other international students. Interestingly, the majority of students seem to dwell on topics relating to information. Hopefully, the transparency and courage shown by students in sharing their views will lead to the development of effective outcomes for students and benefit the institution as a whole. The reader should bear in mind that this is a single-campus study with the aim that the individual needs of students might be identified and addressed. The desired final outcomes of this dissertation are represented in the completion, acceptance and implementation of the guidebook and to promote awareness concerning the needs and wishes of the international students studying at Arcada.