Experiences and Expectations of International Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract

International students are the most important population in the American higher education system, particularly for students from different cultural backgrounds. Besides research-based universities, comprehensive universities, and liberal arts colleges, historically black colleges and universities have the traditions to provide an equal learning environment to minorities, including international students. This study aimed to understand the academic experiences and expectations of Chinese international students enrolled at historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern parts of the United States from the lens of neo-racism. One research question guided this study, which was: How would Chinese international university students describe their academic learning experience, expectations, stress, and difficulties at one of the historically black colleges and universities? The interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was employed to explore the academic experience, difficulties, stress, and lived stories of their academic voyage at one of the historically black colleges and universities in the United States. The findings indicated that discrimination based on skin color, nationality, and race, the gaps in academic expectations, and social unfairness of internship opportunities are still significant. The result indicated the directions and recommendations for leaders, policymakers, school administrators, and related professionals to redesign the current university planning and related counselling services to not only international students but all minority people.

Male Nursing Practitioners and Nursing Educators: The Relationship between Childhood Experience, Social Stigma, and Social Bias

“…In fact, the eating habits of East Asian American people and local American people is totally different due to cultural differences. Some previous studies indicated that international personnel might have cultural conflicts in hosted countries due to misunderstanding and cultural differences [ 46 , 54 , 55 , 56 ]. Therefore, when western teachers instruct Asian people’s eating habits, the cultural differences and misunderstanding may increase conflicts between the groups.…”

The Relationship between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Nursing Students’ Sense of Belonging: The Experiences and Nursing Education Management of Pre-Service Nursing Professionals

“…As an established qualitative researcher [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ] in the field of public health, education, nursing, and social sciences, the researcher decided to employ a qualitative research method to collect and analyse the data information into meaningful themes and subthemes for reporting. The nature of this study is to understand and explore the lived stories, shared information, life experiences, sense of belonging, and decision-making processes [ 33 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ] of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.…”

“…The open-ended and semi-structured interview tools [ 38 , 39 , 46 ] were employed to collect meaningful data and information from the participants. The individuals shared their understanding, life experiences, sense of belonging, decision-making processes, and feedback as Japanese nursing students [ 33 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ] and how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced their behaviours. All participants have voluntarily participated in this study.…”

I Am a Nursing Student but Hate Nursing: The East Asian Perspectives between Social Expectation and Social Context

“…Two types of tools were employed, including individual and focus group activities [40,43,45]. The individual interviews were conducted to explore their understanding, life experience, and family issues under a private sharing environment [46][47][48]. The focus group activities were conducted to explore some similar background, social and family expectations, social bias, and interests.…”