The successful implementation of Korean government scholarship demands conducive learning environment with minimal stress, where they can concentrate on their work. The present study is aimed at providing useful information by identifying factors rel...
The successful implementation of Korean government scholarship demands conducive learning environment with minimal stress, where they can concentrate on their work. The present study is aimed at providing useful information by identifying factors related to success of study in Korea. In particular, research questions are focused on 1) what factors cause their academic adaptation stress in their academic life in postgraduate courses, and 2) how variables such as individual backgrounds, Korean language proficiency, learning motives, and academic adaptation stress cause on their academic adaptation. The investigator has conducted an empirical study in order to find differences in coping with academic adaptation stress among international students.
He attempted to survey the level of academic adaption stress of 405 post-graduate international students who are on scholarship grant of Korean government in December 2009. The survey result was analyzed with independent sample t-test and analysis of variance to find what differences in terms of individual backgrounds of research subject upon their academic adaptation stress and multiple regression to interpret how these factors are associated with academic adaptation.
The research indicated that South America and Europe were significant in stress factors associated with sociocultural backgrounds. With regard to stress related to education students from Japan revealed significant. And students from Southeast Asian countries responded relatively high in individual characteristics. Stress levels related to economic factors were not significant across the nationalities, yet students from Europe and Japan were relatively low.
The level of academic adaptation was analyzed in terms of gender, and socio-cultural factors were relatively highly significant. Female students were higher than male counterparts. There was no significant difference in stress level between duration of study in post-graduate programs and degree program. In terms of the different levels of study at graduate school, international students enrolled in doctorate courses felt more hardships both in economic and individual aspects than their counterparts in master's degree courses.
As regards to differences on the localities of the university where students study, the researcher found that international students attending universities within Seoul (the capital city) metropolitan areas are greatly affected by four stressors originating from sociocultural, economic, institutional and individual factors. He also analyzed the relationship between academic adaptation and factors such as individual backgrounds, Korean language proficiency, learning motives and academic adaptation stress, respectively. Among these factors, Korean language proficiency was found to yield the greatest influence on their academic adaptation followed by stresses caused by individual and institutional factors. It can be inferred that Korean language proficiency is highly related to academic adaptation as international students in Korea based on the fact that Korean language proficiency appears the most significant stress factor among respondents followed by individual traits and stresses caused by institutional management practices.
Based on the responses related to academic adaptation factors, the following measures for program improvement were be suggested for the successful study in Korea of the international students on government scholarship.
First, there is a need for improvement in Koreans' attitudes toward accepting foreign culture and for creating receptive social atmosphere in order to help the international students' fast adaptation to the Korean sociocultural environment.
Second, there should be support system to incoming international students who resided in the country less than six months. It is suggested that the government should institute rich orientation packages to female students in order to better help their adaptation to new environment.
Third, it would be ideal for program host to provide financial assistance to support their study. Alternatively, there should be institutional arrangement for government may grant international students work permit on a part-time basis.
Fourth, there is a need to improve the welfare system for international students. It would be suggested to revise the regulations related to social security of international students, and not be discriminated in social security, medical insurance, and so on and get the same level of benefits as the Korean nationalities.
Fifth, there is a need for them to have more chances to communicate with people around them to lessen their individual stress level which are caused from the university people such as their graduate advisors, professors, and classmates.
Sixth, there is a need to correct Korean language education systems, diversifying Korean language institutes and providing equal number of chances to international students, so that they can learn Korean language with more ease, acquire Korean culture, and acculturate to the Korean society without difficulty.
In conclusion, the researcher would like to suggest the Korean government to formulate policies better serve international students who will be important future human resources abroad, encourage their success of study in Korea, and endeavor to find ways and means to support their study as policy agenda in globalized society.
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