Uluslararası öğrencilerin üniversiteye uyum süreçleri bağlamında okulu bırakma eğilimlerinin incelenmesi

Abstract

Internationalization in higher education has gained importance across the world because it provides opportunities for interaction and development in many fields. While universities endeavor to be preferred by international students, the adaptation processes of students have become a current issue. The problems experienced by international students in the process of adapting is an issue that should be emphasized because it can play a role in school dropout. In this study, adaptation processes of international students in the education faculty of a public university in Turkey and the relationship between adaptation and the tendency of students to dropout were examined. Eight international students participated to this qualitative research, which was carried out with a phenomenological design. Participants were from Afghanistan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Uganda. The data were collected with a semi-structured interview form developed by researchers and analyzed with descriptive analysis. In the study, the reasons for studying abroad and the adaptation processes of the participants in seven themes, and their opinions on dropping out of university education were examined. According to the results of research, most of the participants of this study stated that they have thought dropping out the university. When the reasons that make them think dropping out are evaluated, academic adaptation and cultural harmony was the most important dimensions. Based on this, it can be said that it is necessary to give importance to the academic and cultural adaptation of international students in order to prevent their school dropout in higher education.