How addressing challenges identified by international students can support all students at SDU

The SDU internationalisation project comprised nine work groups, each focused on an aspect of the international student experience from recruitment to graduation and employability. Work group 6 was responsible for identifying the challenges and best practices experienced by international students in their SDU learning environments.

We are very grateful to the 400 SDU students and many members of staff across all the campuses who contributed via surveys, focus groups and interviews. Their responses help us identify challenges, which are often universally shared by SDU students, not just international students. Next, we can identify ways to address these challenges and enhance learning experiences for all students.

Let’s remember that students who choose to study abroad for a semester or a whole degree are motivated to take a risk and try something different, to step out of their educational and cultural comfort zones. International students are generally resourceful and independent people seeking a new intercultural and international educational experience.

What did we find out?

We used the seven statements, listed below, and asked the students to rate their responses on the scale: Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither agree nor disagree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree.

They were also invited to comment about each statement and recommend how their international study programmes could enhance their learning experiences. You might want to reflect on how students on your study programme, whether it is a Danish or international study programme, would respond to these statements.

International Learning Environment Statements

The data showed that international students are mainly positive about their learning experiences at SDU and they recognise and appreciate teachers’ and support staff’s efforts to guide and support them through their studies. They also offered clear and practical recommendations for improvement and enhancement of their experiences as learners.
We found patterns of responses, with high levels of agreement about course information and knowing who to ask (statements 1, 2); more moderate levels of agreement about understanding what the teacher wants us to do, course assessment and feeling welcomed and included in class (statements 3, 4, 5) and the lowest levels of agreement about group work and belonging to a peer group (statements 6, 7).

The SDU Centre for Teaching and Learning (SDU CTL), working in collaboration with SDU Education, SDU RIO and faculty-based consultants and support staff are in dialogue with the five faculties' Vice Deans reviewing their faculty’s data and deciding which recommendations to take forward.
Meanwhile, we can offer you practical advice through our ‘Address the Challenge’ sheets on ways to address some of the main challenges experienced by international students and enhance the learning experience for all students. Follow the links below.

• Finding course information – “I really like itslearning but it’s not always clear where to find information or who to ask”
• Working in groups – “I like the idea but not the reality”
• Course assessment – “I have no experience of oral exams, what is expected of me?"
• Feeling included in class – “I really appreciate it when teachers find ways which help us to know each other in class”