Cultural shocks: understanding the impact on international students' academic journey at Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Touheed Ahmed; Shahzeb Shahzeb

doi:10.21831/jwuny.v6i1.72278

Cultural shocks: understanding the impact on international students' academic journey at Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Touheed Ahmed, Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, Pakistan
Shahzeb Shahzeb, Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, Pakistan

10.21831/jwuny.v6i1.72278

Abstract

This study explores the experiences of international students who face cultural shock when starting higher education in Indonesia. Cultural shock manifests itself in a variety of ways, including changes in food, societal norms, behaviour, language, and religion, which cause students to experience stress, anxiety, and depression. The study investigates the coping mechanisms of the students, which include maintaining communication with locals, friends and family, engaging with Indonesian peers and immersing themselves in local culture. Despite initial difficulties, students gradually adjust to their new academic environment, aided by language proficiency, supportive university communities, and cultural assimilation within the curriculum. The findings emphasise the importance of predeparture education in terms of study programmes and their global implications, as well as fostering receptivity to diverse cultures and understanding cultural differences in order to facilitate effective adaptation and academic success abroad. Limitations include the subjective nature of experiences and the need for further investigation of specific cultural adaptation strategies. The recommendations include providing comprehensive support services for international students and incorporating cultural education into academic curricula.

Keywords

International students; Cultural shock; Academic performance; Indonesia;Higher education

Full Text:

PDF

References

Ahmed, R., Ahmed, A., Barkat, W., & Ullah, R. (n.d.). Impact of Scholarships on Student Success A Case Study of the University of Turbat, Pakistan. https://doi.org/10.30541/v61i2pp.231-258

Al-Raqqad, H. K., Al-Bourini, E. S., Al Talahin, F. M., & Aranki, R. M. E. (2017). The Impact of School Bullying On Students’ Academic Achievement from Teachers Point of View. International Education Studies, 10(6), 44. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v10n6p44

Arthur, N. (2017). Supporting international students by strengthening their social resources. Studies in Higher Education, 42(5), 887-994. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2017.1293876

Baas, M. (2019). The Education-Migration Industry: International Students, Migration Policy and the Question of Skills. International Migration, 57(3), 221-234. https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.12540

Beech, S. E. (n.d.). International Student Mobility: the Role of Social Networks. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649365.2014.983961#abstract

Beiter, R., Nash, R., McCrady, M., Rhoades, D., Linscomb, M., Clarahan, M., & Sammut, S. (2015). The prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of college students. Journal of Affective Disorders, 173, 90–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.10.054

Blessing, O., & Patrick, O. (2020). EFFECTS AND REMEDIES OF CULTURE SHOCK ON HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS IN CHINA. European Journal of Research and Reflection in Educational Sciences, 8. www.idpublications.org

Darling-Hammond, L., & Cook-Harvey, C. M. (n.d.). Educating the Whole Child: Improving School Climate to Support Student Success. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/educating-whole-child.

Denovan, A., & Macaskill, A. (2017). Stress and Subjective Well-Being among First-Year UK Undergraduate Students. Journal of Happiness Studies, 18(2), 505–525. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-016-9736-y

Ermiati, E., Widiasih, R., Suryati, Y., & Murtiningsih, M. (2021). Student experience in completing thesis and its implications for international students in indonesia. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, 9(T6), 45–51. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2021.7367

Ernofalina, E. (n.d.). Culture Shocks Experienced by Indonesian Students Studying Overseas Ernofalina. Ernofalina, E. (2017). Culture Shocks Experienced by Indonesian students studying overseas. International Journal of Educational Best Practices, 1(2), 87-105.

Gao, H., & De Wit, H. (2017). China and International Student Mobility. International Higher Education, 90, 3. https://doi.org/10.6017/ihe.2017.90.9865

Gong, Y., Gao, X., Li, M., & Lai, C. (2021). Cultural adaptation challenges and strategies during study abroad: New Zealand students in China. Language, Culture, and Curriculum, 34(4), 417–437. https://doi.org/10.1080/07908318.2020.1856129

Grey, M. M., Wong-Wylie, G., Rempel, G. R., & Cook, K. (2020). Expanding qualitative research interviewing strategies: Zoom video communications. Qualitative Report, 25(5), 1292–1301. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2020.4212

Jack, A. A. (2014). Culture shock revisited: The social and cultural contingencies to class marginality. Sociological Forum, 29(2), 453–475. https://doi.org/10.1111/socf.12092

Jones, E. (2017). Problematising and reimagining the notion of ‘international student experience'. Studies in Higher Education, 42(5), 933–943. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2017.1293880

Lee, A. R., & Bailey, D. R. (2020). Examining the interactions of South Korean University Students with International Students. Asian Journal of University Education, 16(3), 43–58. https://doi.org/10.24191/ajue.v16i3.8622

Leong, P. (2015). Coming to America: Assessing the Patterns of Acculturation, Friendship Formation, and the Academic Experiences of International Students at a US College 5(4), 459–474. http://jistudents.org

Liang, X., Dibyamandala, J., & Mangkhang, C. (n.d.). Enhancement of Intercultural Communication Competence Through Chinese Food Culture in Chinese as a Foreign Language Teaching. In Journal of Multidisciplinary in Social Sciences (Vol. 18, Issue 2). http://jmss.dusit.ac.th

Lovanavalona, R. & Candy, A. (2016). INDONESIA SOFT POWER DIPLOMACY TOWARDS MADAGASCAR VIA EDUCATION AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE: DARMASISWA SCHOLARSHIP PERIOD.

Mesidor, J. K., & Sly, K. F. (2016a). Factors that Contribute to the Adjustment of International Students. 6(1), 262–282. http://jistudents.org/

Mesidor, J. K., & Sly, K. F. (2016b). Factors that Contribute to the Adjustment of International Students. 6(1), 262–282. http://jistudents.org/

Mohajan, H., & Mohajan, H. K. (2018). Munich Personal RePEc Archive Qualitative Research Methodology in Social Sciences and Related Subjects Qualitative Research Methodology in Social Sciences and Related Subjects. In Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People (Vol. 7).

Muharom Albantani, A., & Madkur, A. (2018). Think Globally, Act Locally: The strategy to incorporate local wisdom into foreign language teaching in Indonesia. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature, 7(2), 1. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.7n.2p.1

Mukminin, A. (2019). Acculturative experiences among Indonesian graduate students in Dutch higher education. Journal of International Students, 9(2), 488–510. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v0i0.265

Mulbah, J. (2017). The EXPERIENCE OF CULTURE SHOCK AND ITS EFFECTS ON

Presbitero, A. (2016). Culture shock and reverse culture shock: The moderating role of cultural intelligence in the adaptation of international students. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 53, 28–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2016.05.004

Roostika, R. (n.d.). The Role of City and Host University Images on Students’ Satisfaction with the Assigned Destination. http://buscompress.com/journal-home.html

Vasileiou, K., Barnett, J., Thorpe, S., & Young, T. (2018). Characterising and justifying sample size sufficiency in interview-based studies: Systematic analysis of qualitative health research over a 15-year period. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-018-0594-7

Wang, C. Y. (2019). Building a Network for Preserving Intangible Cultural Heritage through Education: A Study of Indonesian Batik. International Journal of Art and Design Education, 38(2), 398–415. https://doi.org/10.1111/jade.12200

Wu, H., Garza, E., & Guzman, N. (2015). International Student’s Challenge and Adjustment to College. Education Research International, 2015, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/202753

Yang, Y., Zhang, Y., & Sheldon, K. M. (2018). Self-determined motivation for studying abroad predicts a lower culture shock and greater well-being among international students: The mediating role of basic psychological needs satisfaction. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 63, 95–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2017.10.005

Yılmaz, K., & Temizkan, V. (2022). The Effects of Educational Service Quality and Socio-Cultural Adaptation Difficulties on International Students’ Higher Education Satisfaction. SAGE Open, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221078316

Young, T. J., & Schartner, A. (2014). The effects of cross-cultural communication education on the adjustment and adaptation of international students. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 35(6), 547–562. https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2014.884099

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21831/jwuny.v6i1.72278