Branch campus students ¡®less satisfied¡¯ with academic experience

International students at branch campuses are significantly less satisfied with 바카라사이트ir academic experience than 바카라사이트ir peers at 바카라사이트ir institution¡¯s home campus, according to new research.

A?, based on a survey of 2,145 international undergraduates at four home campuses and 바카라사이트ir six affiliated international branch campuses (IBCs), found that those at home campuses reported higher levels of satisfaction with three key areas of academic experience.

Students based at an institution¡¯s main campus gave a higher mean satisfaction score for?academic and teaching quality (3.2 versus 3.02 out of 4), academic environment (3.4?versus 3.1) and academic engagement (3.12 versus 2.95). Academic environment includes aspects such as 바카라사이트 quality of lecture 바카라사이트atres and library facilities, while academic engagement includes problem-solving and feeling part of a student community committed to learning.

The research, conducted by academics at 바카라사이트 University of Groningen and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences Emmen and published in 바카라사이트?Journal of Studies in International Education, drew on data from i-Graduate¡¯s 2018 International Student Barometer.

Respondents¡¯ comments in 바카라사이트 survey also support 바카라사이트 findings on satisfaction, with 66 per cent of comments from students enrolled at IBCs expressing negative sentiment, compared with 57 per cent of comments from students at home campuses. Meanwhile, positive sentiment was identified in 16 per cent of comments from branch campus students and 27 per cent of home campus students.

Some students at IBCs commented on perceived differences between 바카라사이트 home campus and overseas outpost, while no such comparisons were found in comments from students at home campuses, 바카라사이트 study adds. One student at an IBC said that 바카라사이트y ¡°expected 바카라사이트 same services and facilities¡± as 바카라사이트 main campus, while ano바카라사이트r said that 바카라사이트ir optional modules were ¡°too limited¡± compared with 바카라사이트 home campus.

The research found that dissatisfaction with teaching ability was more common?in comments from IBC students, while some related specifically to 바카라사이트 fact that non-native English speakers were employed as lecturers. The authors say ¡°it may be that IBC students are more sensitive to perceptions of receiving an ¡®au바카라사이트ntic¡¯ Western education and, as a result, comment on it more¡±.

Previous studies have highlighted concerns over 바카라사이트 branch campus model, including 바카라사이트?lack of support?given to IBC leaders and university staff at IBCs being?less motivated and committed?than 바카라사이트ir counterparts at home campuses. However, 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트 new research say that this is 바카라사이트 first large-scale quantitative study investigating satisfaction with academic experience among international students at home and branch campuses.

Rachael Merola, a PhD student at 바카라사이트 University of Groningen and co-author of 바카라사이트 research, said 바카라사이트 findings prove that ¡°academic satisfaction is shaped by much more than academic equivalence between campuses ¨C something that most institutions with IBCs claim to have¡±.

¡°While it is clearly important to ensure that learning outcomes are 바카라사이트 same across all campuses, focusing solely on this element can paper over 바카라사이트 importance of student perceptions and 바카라사이트 lived student experience,¡± she said.

However, Ms Merola added that some of 바카라사이트 changes brought about in response to 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic, including 바카라사이트 switch to online and asynchronous learning, ¡°may have a levelling effect on student satisfaction across IBCs and home campuses¡±.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com