International students’ experiences of othering in tertiary education in South Africa: an exploratory study
- Authors: Lobakeng, Tsholofelo
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Other (Philosophy) , Afrophobia , Students, Foreign South Africa , Prejudices , Xenophobia in education , Education, Higher Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424986 , vital:72199
- Description: Despite rising cases of xenophobia in South Africa, international students remain committed to enrolling in its universities. Surprisingly, there is limited research looking into xenophobia in tertiary institutions. Therefore, the present study aimed to contribute to the scarcity of knowledge on the experiences of international students in South Africa. Thus, the study explored experiences of Othering among international students in tertiary education in South Africa and how they make sense of these experiences. Purposive and snowballing sampling techniques were employed to recruit international students (N=5) from Botswana, China, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Data was collected through semi-structured, face-to-face online interviews. Participants reported experiencing a variety of non-violent forms of Othering, such as feeling excluded due to the intentional use of local languages in both classroom and social settings; being rejected by local students who refused to work with them; and being accused of stealing opportunities from local students. At an institutional level, participants reported systemic Othering rooted in unsupportive policies and practices that led to a negative and oppressive environment. The findings support previous research studies that purport the Othering of international students in higher education in South Africa mainly manifests through non-violent and covert forms. Moreover, participants attributed Othering of immigrants to racism, a perceived lack of exposure to diversity among locals, perceived lack of compassion for immigrants, and the tendency to scapegoat immigrants for the lack of employment opportunities in the country. The findings underscore the intricate nature of Othering and the need for further research to gain a greater understanding of this complex phenomenon. Furthermore, the findings highlight the importance of implementing effective strategies of inclusion and integration of international students at these institutions of higher learning. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Settling in: Investigating the experiences of social media use of a group of international students in their integration into the Rhodes University environment
- Authors: Losa Reinoso, Kelia
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Students, Foreign South Africa , Social media and society South Africa , Students, Foreign Social conditions , Student adjustment South Africa , Students, Foreign Social networks , Social media and college students South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405941 , vital:70221
- Description: The South African government and its institutions of higher education take deliberate measures to attract international students to this country which is marketed as an appealing option for for international study because it is cheaper than in European countries and the US, courses that may be unavailable or difficult to get into in their home countries are available in South Africa, there is a high quality of education, a greater variety of qualifications, technologically advanced facilities and a geographical proximity of South Africa to international students’ home countries in the SADC region. While many international students find living in a new country exciting, fulfilling and stimulating, it may at the same time be frustrating and confusing. Students may find it difficult to adjust to their general living arrangements, new housing and transportation environments and dealing with financial and health care concerns. Also, there may be academic challenges and socio-cultural difficulties to navigate. Problems of adjustment may force international students into isolation, creating feelings of alienation and so they develop mechanisms to adjust, to feel better integrated and cope with situations that they might find difficult and alienating. One of the most important of these is to find social support which can come from friends, family, academic staff, classmates or colleagues. Social networking through social media is also important as it can ameliorate feelings of alienation and contribute significantly to the creation of an active social network and its use is therefore associated with social support for, and social adjustment of international students. This study investigates the positive and negative impacts of social media on the integration of international students into the Rhodes University environment. The study uses an exploratory survey, focus groups and semi-structured interviews to gather data which was analysed using a thematic analysis. This analysis shows that international students make use of a variety social media platforms, each with its own specific purpose – WhatsApp to communicate with friends and family, Twitter for news, Instagram for entertainment and Facebook for information and entertainment, etc. Interestingly, while social media is used in the maintenance of strong social connections it is not used to create those relationships. Rather, meeting new people and the initiation and building of relationships was done through meeting at parties and pubs and in university organised social events, clubs and societies. While social media reporting of issues like xenophobic attacks made international students anxious, none of those involved in the study were subjected to such attacks through social media. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Journalism and Media Studies, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14