|
" Lived Experiences of Saudi Arabian International Students Who Graduated from One Four-Year Private Higher Education Institution: A Phenomenological Study "
Chehouri Abi-Daher, Selma Youssef
Riker, Dennis L.
| Document Type
|
:
|
Latin Dissertation
|
| Language of Document
|
:
|
English
|
| Record Number
|
:
|
1054212
|
| Doc. No
|
:
|
TL53329
|
| Main Entry
|
:
|
Chehouri Abi-Daher, Selma Youssef
|
| Title & Author
|
:
|
Lived Experiences of Saudi Arabian International Students Who Graduated from One Four-Year Private Higher Education Institution: A Phenomenological Study\ Chehouri Abi-Daher, Selma YoussefRiker, Dennis L.
|
| College
|
:
|
Delaware Valley University
|
| Date
|
:
|
2020
|
| Degree
|
:
|
Ed.D.
|
| student score
|
:
|
2020
|
| Note
|
:
|
121 p.
|
| Abstract
|
:
|
This qualitative phenomenological research study explored lived experiences of Saudi Arabian international students who graduated from one suburban four-year college institution in the United States. A Saudi Arabian international student is an individual residing in the United States for educational purposes only. In the last two decades, research shows substantial growth in the international student population (Institute of International Education, 2018). As a result, studies have been conducted with international students’ perceptions regarding factors affecting academic and cultural adjustment within the school community (Rabia & Karkouti, 2017). However, this study fills the gap by bringing together multiple elements and strands of the experiences into a single study. The phenomenological perspective empowered the researcher to acquire evidence crucial to the study with the premise of exploring the whole lived experiences of Saudi Arabian international students who graduated from one four-year private higher education institution in the United States with respect to academics, social and emotional needs, and academics. Patton (2014) discussed phenomenological study investigating human experiences, but it was the analysis and interpretation of these experiences that were essential to the research. The purpose of this study was to reveal lived experiences of Saudi Arabian international students who graduated from one four-year private higher education institution in the United States. Ten participants discussed their cultural lived experiences from the perspective of religion, family, and educational systems. In addition, the participants’ social and emotional lived experiences were examined from the perspective of personal and academic support networks, academic lived experiences through the availability of the KASP Scholarship funding and English language proficiency. Through the conducted research, interview participants identified common themes of their lived experiences. Diversity and multiculturalism were common themes the participants all revealed in the areas of religion, family, and educational systems. All interview participants discussed how their exposure to diversity in the United States prepared them for a global society. Each participant described their lived experiences at The College as an enlightening experience. Interview participants identified strengths they possessed which enabled them to become successful in their studies in the United States. The interview participants expressed how their time in the United States belonged to them and how back in Saudi Arabia, their time was shared with family members and friends. They valued their time which allowed them to concentrate strictly on studying and succeeding in their studies. They felt the importance of their success and resilience for their family back in Saudi Arabia. The interview participants identified discipline, resilience, and their drive as strengths they possessed. All ten interview participants did not want to disappoint their family back home. Participant D spoke happily of the goal to make the participant’s parents proud of the accomplishments. All ten participants expressed the drive and motivation for success. All ten participants talked about their only job was to be a student. The interview participants also explained how they received social and emotional support from various sources. They discussed receiving support from other Saudi Arabian international students, advisors, instructors, and the library. The various support networks contributed to their well-being. They welcomed the support and embraced it. Lastly, the interview participants spoke of academic experiences and the journey which led them to the United States. The participants discussed the process they went through when making a decision to study in the United States including the application procedures. They also stressed the challenges they encountered with the English language proficiency. All ten participants persevered and successfully graduated with a four-year college degree in less than four years.
|
| Descriptor
|
:
|
Educational leadership
|
|
|
:
|
Higher education
|
|
|
:
|
Multicultural education
|
| Added Entry
|
:
|
Riker, Dennis L.
|
| Added Entry
|
:
|
Delaware Valley University
|
| |