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Theme: Student Populations and Diversity

Positive Model: facilitating cultural diversity in the first year
international Business students' learning at Victoria University

Christabel Zhang, School of Applied Economics
James Sillitoe and Janis Webb, Centre for Educational Development and Support
Victoria University


International students have diverse needs when undertaking education in Australian universities. It is in the interest of both international students and the host institution to ensure these students achieve success in their studies. This qualitative research study investigated the academic adjustment experiences of first year international Business students from Chinese Confucian heritage cultures at Victoria University, Australia. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted for data collection. The transcribed data was analysed under focus questions and themes identified in the literature review. The paper reports the final results of the study, focusing on the cultural factors which impinged on the adjustment of the cohort of students; the emerging patterns; processes of the adjustment; strategies for future students to adjust well; and implications on curriculum development and delivery.

Full Paper in MS Word


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