Conference theme: Student Populations and Diversity

Title: An investigation of international students’ academic and social transition requirements

Stuart Levy, Monique Osborn & Margaret Plunkett

Abstract

As the international student intake at Monash University is steadily increasing, the need for a positive transition experience is constantly under investigation. English proficiency has been focussed upon previously as the causal factor in unsuccessful transition, however often issues other than language difficulties have created ongoing problems for this group of students. Informal on campus research has identified preparatory academic skills programs implemented at a faculty level as generally not effective for all students. Consequently, new strategies need to be learner rather than faculty focused to more effectively address the academic and social metacognitive issues at hand. This study is an investigation that has moved away from an anticipatory model that intends to identify the academic and social transition needs of South-East Asian international students who come to study at rural campuses such as the Gippsland campus.

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