Exploring student diversity: local and international first year pharmacy students
Files
(Published version)
Date
2011
Authors
Stupans, I.
Elliot, E.E.
March, G.
Editors
Sharma, M.D.
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Conference paper
Citation
Proceedings of ACSME 2011: Teaching for Diversity: Challenges and Strategies, 2011 / Sharma, M.D. (ed./s)
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
ACSME 2011: Teaching for Diversity: Challenges and Strategies (28 Sep 2011 : University of Melbourne, Australia)
Abstract
ABSTRACT The Australian higher education sector has undergone significant changes in the last two decades with a wider and more diverse student population. Although the number of international students commencing in Australian universities is currently in decline, international students contribute to student diversity. The authors of this paper sought to explore aspects of this diversity through use of a questionnaire composed of questions from the literature around learning/instructional design. Questions eliciting responses from international students could be categorised into three groups: those that indicated differences between international and local students at the point of entry and after one year of study; those where responses were initially different, but after one year were similar and; those that were similar at the point of entry for both international and local students. Focus groups of both international and local students provided additional insight into the students' perceptions of their learning environment. This study is of a relatively small cohort of students, however - some of the unexpected findings such as reports by international students of hostile interactions with other students deserve further investigation. The critical difference for international students after one year of study is around communication confidence.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
Copyright 2011 The Authors