Examining International Students’ Challenges at Yazd University based on Grounded Theory Research

Over the last two decades, the issue of international students has been an integral part of the internalization of universities. Therefore, recognizing and probing into the issues faced by such students and trying to attract them to the target university have been among the political and economic goals of the country’s higher education. To this end, the present study aimed at exploring the challenges faced by international students in Yazd University.

A qualitative research approach and a ground theory method were selected. The target group included all international students in Yazd University, selected via theorical sampling. The research tool was a semi-structured deep interview. The interviews conducted reached 18 and the theoretical saturation was achieved. The obtained data were analyzed via coding and categorization at three levels of open, axial and selective coding. The triangulation method was employed to verify data credibility.

The findings generally verified the six dimensions of the grounded theory. The constituting types of challenges faced by the international students and their interrelationships appeared through a paradigmatic model consisting of causal condition (6 types), core category (arrival challenge and adaptation), strategy (5 types), environmental factors (2 types), context (5 types) and consequences (3 types).

Given the contextual and environmental factors, we can accomplish students’ satisfaction, their loyalty toward the university and their academic achievement through strategies including attention, guidance, counselling, motivation, communications and cooperation, further effort and involvement.