Impact of Perceived Internationalization of Higher Education on Student Outcomes

Authors

  • Rowena C. Alcoba
  • Waewwan La-Ongsri

Keywords:

international higher education; international students; perception of internationalization; student satisfaction; student performance

Abstract

Given the multitude of international education options available to students, academic institutions need to understand better how international students perceive their internationalization efforts and how these perceptions influence student outcomes. Employing quantitative and qualitative methods, this study investigated how student satisfaction and performance are impacted by perceived internationalization. Primary data were collected from 124 international students enrolled in a state university in Thailand using a pre-tested questionnaire. The data were assessed for validity and reliability through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Bottom of Form

The predicted relationships were examined using path analysis and mediation analysis. Results indicated neutrality in students' perceptions of their international educational environment and experience. Perceived internationalization was directly related to satisfaction. However, the path modeling analysis showed a negative mediating effect of satisfaction on the relationship between perceived internationalization and performance. This finding suggests that international students may still perform well academically even in non-satisfying educational contexts. The implications for higher education institutions present opportunities to align policies, strategies, and actions toward developing a truly international learning environment that will be beneficial for students.

https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.23.10.6

References

Alcoba, R. C., La-ongsri, W., & La-ongsri, W. (2024). Same Same or Different?: Comparing Perceived Internationalization, Experiences and Satisfaction of Domestic and International Tertiary Students in Thailand. Community and Social Development Journal, 25(2), 49–63. https://doi.org/10.57260/csdj.2024.266615

Ammigan, R. (2019). Institutional Satisfaction and Recommendation: What Really Matters to International Students? Journal of International Students, 9(1), 262–281. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v9i1.260

Appiah, J. B., Korkor, S., Arthur, Y. D., & Obeng, B. A. (2022). Mathematics achievement in high schools, the role of the teacher-student relationship, students’ self-efficacy, and students’ perception of mathematics. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 17(3), em0688. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/12056

Bégin-Caouette, O., Béland, S., Stephenson, G. K., Jones, G. A., & Metcalfe, A. S. (2024). Academic work and institutional diversity in Canada. McGill Journal of Education / Revue Des Sciences De L Éducation De McGill, 85–110. https://doi.org/10.26443/mje/rsem.v58i2.10063

Bergman, B., Negretti, R., Spencer-Oatey, H., & Stöhr, C. (2023). Integrating Home and International Students in HE: Academic and Social Effects of Pair Work PBL Assignments Online. Journal of Studies in International Education, 28(2), 240–258. https://doi.org/10.1177/10283153221150117

Bruhn, E. (2020). Virtual internationalization in higher education. wbv Publikation. https://doi.org/10.3278/6004797w

Chung, I., & Choi, H. (2022). Understanding International Students’ Learning Experiences of English as a Medium of Instruction Courses. International Journal of Educational Methodology, 8(4), 639–645. https://doi.org/10.12973/ijem.8.4.639

Conceição, M. C. (2020). Language policies and internationalization of higher education. European Journal of Higher Education, 10(3), 231–240. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568235.2020.1778500

Da Silva, M. B. C., Matte, J., Bebber, S., Libardi, B., & Fachinelli, A. C. (2021). Satisfaction and value-in-use perceived by university students from the influence of the built environment, price fairness and teaching care. Benchmarking an International Journal, 29(2), 365–381. https://doi.org/10.1108/bij-12-2020-0628

Daud, N., Noor, A., & Amer, H. (2019). Influential Determinants of International Students’ Satisfaction in Higher Education. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE), 8(2S11), 589–597. https://doi.org/10.35940/ijrte.b1091.0982s1119

Dhaqane, K., & Afrah, N. (2016). Satisfaction of Students and Academic Performance in Benadir University. Journal of Education and Practice. 7(24), 59-63. Microsoft Word - JEP-Vol.7 No.24 2016 (ed.gov)

Dinh, T. C., Nguyen, P. B. N., Nguyen, T. T. T., Ngo, X. M. T., & Nguyen, A. T. L. (2022). The Predictors of Students’ Satisfaction and Academic Achievements in Online Learning Environment in Higher Education. Vietnam Journal of Education (Online)/Vietnam Journal of Education/Gia?O Du?C, 6(1), 80–92. https://doi.org/10.52296/vje.2022.132

Dudášová, L., Vaculik, M., Prochazka, J., Svitavska, P. & Patton, G. (2023). Causality of the Satisfaction-Performance Relationship: A Task Experiment. Europe’s Journal of Psychology. 19. 48-66. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.4075

Dwyer, T. (2015). Persistence in higher education through student-faculty interactions in the classroom of a commuter institution. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 54(4), 325–334. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2015.1112297

Fi?, C.R., & Gologan, D. (2018). Student Perspective on the Institutional Efforts to Develop Internationalisation Within Romanian HEIs. In Curaj, A., Deca, L., Pricopie, R. (Eds.), European Higher Education Area: The Impact of Past and Future Policies. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77407-7_9

Fredrick, B. (2004). The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. Sep 29;359(1449):1367–78. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2004.1512. PMID: 15347528; PMCID: PMC1693418.

Ge, Y. (2022). Internationalisation of higher education: new players in a changing scene. Educational Research and Evaluation, 27(3–4), 229–238. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803611.2022.2041850

Glass, C., & Westmont, C. (2014). Comparative effects of belongingness on the academic success and cross-cultural interactions of domestic and international students. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 38, 106-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2013.04.004

Gómez-Baya, D., Grasmeijer, A. J., López-Bermúdez, E., De Matos, M. G., & Mendoza, R. (2022). Positive Youth Development and Internet Use in a Sample of Spanish Adolescents. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2022.842928

Gopal, R., Singh, V., & Aggarwal, A. (2021). Impact of online classes on the satisfaction and performance of students during the pandemic period of COVID 19. Educ Inf Technol. 26, 6923–6947. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10523-1

Hadjar, A., Haas, C., & Gewinner, I. (2022). Refining the Spady–Tinto approach: the roles of individual characteristics and institutional support in students’ higher education dropout intentions in Luxembourg. European Journal of Higher Education, 13(4), 409–428. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568235.2022.2056494

Hennings, M., & Tanabe, S. (2018). Study Abroad Objectives and Satisfaction of International Students in Japan. Journal of International Students, 8(4). https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v8i4.238

Inayat, W., & Khan, J. (2021). A Study of Job Satisfaction and Its Effect on the Performance of Employees Working in Private Sector Organizations, Peshawar. Education Research International. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/1751495

Kim, S., & Kim, D. (2021). Structural Relationship of Key Factors for Student Satisfaction and Achievement in Asynchronous Online Learning. Sustainability, 13(12), 6734. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126734

Laufer, M., & Gorup, M. (2018). The invisible others: stories of international doctoral student dropout. Higher Education, 78(1), 165–181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-018-0337-z

Lee, J., Kim, N., & Wu, Y. (2018). College readiness and engagement gaps between domestic and international students: re-envisioning educational diversity and equity for global campus. Higher Education, 77(3), 505–523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-018-0284-8

Liu, R., & Liu, R.K. (2004, May 28-Jun 2). Satisfaction and Performance: A Reciprocal Model. [Conference presentation]. Annual Forum of the Association for Institutional Research (AIR), Boston, MA, United States. Liu & Liu_2004.pdf

Lyken-Segosebe, D. (2017). Acculturative Stress and Disengagement: Learning from the Adjustment Challenges faced by East Asian International Graduate Students. International Journal of Higher Education, 6(6), 66. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v6n6p66

Mensink, P. J., & King, K. (2019). Student access of online feedback is modified by the availability of assessment marks, gender and academic performance. British Journal of Educational Technology, 51(1), 10–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12752

Merola, R. H., Coelen, R. J., & Hofman, W. H. A. (2019). The Role of Integration in Understanding Differences in Satisfaction Among Chinese, Indian, and South Korean International Students. Journal of Studies in International Education, 23(5), 535–553. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315319861355

Mittelmeier, J., Lomer, S., Al-Furqani, S., & Huang, D. (2024). Developing Meaningful Internationalisation that Impacts Students’ Outcomes in Higher Education: A Scoping Review of the Literature 2011–2022. Journal of Studies in International Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/10283153231222278

Molley, A. (2019). Lived Experiences of African Students With Microaggressions in U.S.-Based Higher Education Institutions. Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 8408. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/8408

Namoun, A., & Alshanqiti, A. (2020). Predicting Student Performance Using Data Mining and Learning Analytics Techniques: A Systematic Literature Review. Applied Sciences, 11(1), 237. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11010237

Narad, A., & Abdullah, B. (2016). Academic Performance of Senior Secondary School Students: Influence of Parental Encouragement and School Environment. Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, 8(2), 12–19. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v8n2.02

OECD. (2021). Education at a glance 2021: OECD indicators. OECD Publishing. Accessed December 1, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.1787/b35a14e5-en.

Otache, I., & Edopkolor, J. E. (2022). Work placement learning and student employability: Do student satisfaction, commitment and achievement matter? Industry and Higher Education, 36(6), 730–741. https://doi.org/10.1177/09504222221091989

Silveira, F., Dufur, M. J., Jarvis, J. A., & Rowley, K. J. (2019). The Influence of Foreign-born Population on Immigrant and Native-born Students’ Academic Achievement. Socius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World, 5, 237802311984525. https://doi.org/10.1177/2378023119845252

Son, B., & Cho, Y. (2020). An Analysis on Factors that Affect Academic Achievement in Globalized Environment. Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business, 11(6), 7–17. https://doi.org/10.13106/jidb.2020.vol11.no6.7

S?n, H.T., Ha, N.T., & Khuyen, P.T. (2018). Measuring Students’ satisfaction with higher education service – An experimental study at Thainguyen University. International Journal of Business Marketing and Management (IJBMM), 2456-4559.(PDF) Measuring Students' satisfaction with higher education service - An experimental study at Thainguyen University (researchgate.net)

Spencer-Oatey, H., & Dauber, D. (2019). Internationalisation and student diversity: how far are the opportunity benefits being perceived and exploited?. Higher Education. 78, 1035–1058. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-019-00386-4

Starr-Glass, D. (2016). Repositioning Study Abroad as a Rite of Passage. In Advances in higher education and professional development book series (pp. 89–114). https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-0169-5.ch004

Stiglbauer, B., Gnambs, T., Gamsjäger, M., & Batinic, B. (2013). The upward spiral of adolescents’ positive school experiences and happiness: Investigating reciprocal effects over time. Journal of School Psychology, 51(2), 231–242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2012.12.002

Telbis, N. M., Helgeson, L., & Kingsbury, C. (2014). International Students’ Confidence and Academic Success. Journal of International Students, 4(4), 330–341. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v4i4.452

Telef, B. B. (2020). The Relation between Happiness, School Satisfaction, and Positive Experiences at School in Secondary School Students. TED E??T?M VE B?L?M. https://doi.org/10.15390/eb.2020.5587

Thi Thu Le, H., Le Minh, C., Tran, T., Thi Nghiem, T., Thanh Nguyen, H., Duc

Asia: a bibliometric analysis based on Scopus database from 2003 to 2022. Cogent Education, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2322892

Tinto, V. (1993). Leaving college: Rethinking the causes and cures of student attrition (2nd ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

UNESCO. (2022). Definition of internationally mobile sudents. http://uis.unesco.org/en/glossary-term/international-or-internationally-mobile-students

Uysal, ?., & Sarier, Y. (2019). Teacher Leadership Effects on Student Achievement and Student Satisfaction: A Meta Analysis on the Studies Published in Turkey and USA. Croatian Journal of Education - Hrvatski ?asopis Za Odgoj I Obrazovanje, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.15516/cje.v21i3.3257

Vahed, A., & Rodriguez, K. (2020). Enriching students’ engaged learning experiences through the collaborative online international learning project. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 58(5), 596–605. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2020.1792331

Wong, W. H., & Chapman, E. (2022). Student satisfaction and interaction in higher education. Higher Education, 85(5), 957–978. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00874-0

Yassin, A. A., Razak, N. A., Qasem, Y. a. M., & Mohammed, M. a. S. (2020). Intercultural Learning Challenges Affecting International Students’ Sustainable Learning in Malaysian Higher Education Institutions. Sustainability, 12(18), 7490. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187490

Zimitat, C. (2008). Student perceptions of internationalisation of the undergraduate curriculum. In Wallace, M., & Dunn, L. (Eds.). Teaching in Transnational Higher Education: Enhancing Learning for Offshore International Students (13). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203930625

Downloads

Published

2024-10-30