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Title:	A psycho-educational module on international students adjustment in UKM, Malaysia
Authors:	Niloofar Vaziri Naeeni (P57588)
Supervisor:	Zuria Mahmoud, Prof. Dr.
Keywords:	International students Adjustment Psycho-educational module Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia -- Dissertations
Issue Date:	18-Apr-2016
Description:	Internationalization of higher education is increasing all over the world. International students face adjustment problems in their new destination. Failing in adjustment in the host country make international students face various problems including academic, social, and emotional. Four objectives guided this research: 1) to identify the adjustment problems of international students in UKM, 2) to design and develop a psycho-education module, 3) to implement the psycho-educational module on international students adjustment 4) to evaluate the usability of the module in facilitating international students adjustment. This case study employs qualitative methods for collecting data, namely observation, focus group discussion, and journal reflections. There were 43 participants in total who took part in this research (3 officers from UKM International Student Center, 7 seniors international student representatives and 33 first semester international students in UKM). The 10 (3+7) officers and senior representatives were involved in a focused group discussion regarding the adjustment problems of international students as well as program for them. Following this, a psycho-educational module was built, validated, and implemented on the 33 participants. The group psycho-education module was conducted in five weekly sessions, with each session lasting 90 minutes per week. Audio and video recordings, observations, reflection journals of the focused group counseling, and each participant individual journal submission were transcribed, and coded. Constant comparative method showed emerging themes that describe the international students adjustment problems, group participants experiences as well as usability of the psycho education module. In the designing and developing phase, factors considered were time, venue, content as well as number of group members. Topics included orientation, academic adjustment, social adjustment, emotional adjustment and sharing of culture. Results also revealed that experiences were shared by international students in group session included common and different reasons for being in Malaysia, getting familiar with new socials behaviors and cultures, expectations met and surprises, and adjustment challenges. Most participants were surprised that Malaysia is such a vastly multicultural country. Problems include poor English, limited communication with local and international society, hot and humid Malaysian weather, spicy food, new academic environment and financial issues. Further, international students found psycho-educational group useful as it allows group disclosure, increasing individual self-efficacy, learning problem solving skills, increasing courage and confidence, getting motivation and improving ability to interact with others from different countries. This study suggests inclusion of the counseling unit in building programs for international students transition and adjustment process.,Certification of Master's/Doctoral Thesis" is not available
Pages:	252
Publisher:	UKM, Bangi
Appears in Collections:	Faculty of Education / Fakulti Pendidikan

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