Internationalization of Higher Education in Malaysia : A Study on Students’ Learning Experience and Intercultural Competence

Candidate: Norazah Abdul Aziz

Supervisors:Prof. Simon Marginson

Dr. Chi Baik

Overview• Background of the Study• Literature Review• Problem Statement• Research Objectives • Research Questions• Conceptual Framework• Research Methodology

– Research Design– Settings and Respondents– Instrumentation– Data Collection and Analysis

• Significance of the Study

Background of the Study

Literature Review

6 KPIs1. Number of international

students2. Number of international staff3. Number of students involved

in international mobility programmes

4. Number of students sponsored by foreign governments/agencies

5. Number of staff involved in inbound mobility programmes

6. Number of staff involved in outbound mobility programme

Higher Education in MalaysiaPSPTN - Internationalization of Malaysian HEIs → Critical Agenda Project (CAP)

Programme Logic Model (Deardoff, et al. ,2009)

Internationalization of Malaysia HE

Intercultural Competence

Fantini (2006) – complex ability

Sample (2010) – integrating cultural commonalities

Stier (2003, 2006) - content-competencies and processual competencies

Bennett (1993) - Individuals respond differently to cultural difference - experience becomes more complicated and sophisticated

Developed Development Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) – 6 stagesPredict behaviour and attitudes – tailor education programmes

Problem Statement

Research Objectives1. To investigate the learning experience of

international students in Malaysian HEIs2. To investigate the level of intercultural competence

of international students in Malaysian HEIs3. To investigate the relationship between students’

learning experience and intercultural competence4. To identify the strengths, weaknesses and areas of

improvement critical to the internationalization of higher education in Malaysia

5. To investigate the challenges faced by international students studying in Malaysian HEIs

6. To provide suggestions on further enhancing the Malaysian Higher Education Policy and the Internationalization of Higher Education in Malaysia

Research Questions1. What is the level of learning experience achieved rated by international

students studying in Malaysian higher education institutions?2. What is the level of intercultural competence achieved by international

students studying in Malaysian higher education institutions?3. How do students’ learning experience contribute to their intercultural

competence level?4. Is there a significant relationship between the learning experience and

intercultural competence of international students studying in Malaysian higher education institutions?

5. What are the strengths of internationalization of higher education in Malaysia?

6. What are the weaknesses of internationalization of higher education in Malaysia?

7. What are the challenges faced by international students studying in Malaysia?

8. What are the areas of improvement in internationalization of higher education in Malaysia?

Conceptual Framework

Challenges studying in Malaysia

Feedback and suggestions for improvement to existing practices

International Students

Learning ExperienceStudent Attributes

International RelationsCurriculum Design & Content

Curriculum Delivery

SignificantAssociation?

Intercultural Competence

Internationalization of HEIs

Research Methodology

Instrumentation

Data Collection & Analysis

Significance of the Study

ReferencesDeardoff, D. K. B. (2004). The Identification and Assessment of Intercultural Competence as a Student Outcome of

Internationalization at Institutions of Higher Education in the United States. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). North Carolina State University, USA.

Deardoff, D. K. (2006). Identification and assessment of intercultural competence as a student outcome of internationalization. Journal of Studies in International Education 10(3), 241-266. doi: 10.1177/1028315306287002

Coughlan, A. (2004). Evaluating the learning experience: The case for a student feedback system. Retrieved from qpo.nuim.ie/quality/documents/DocumentA.pdf

Gall, M. D., Gall, J. P., & Borg, W. R. (2003). Educational Research: An Introduction (7th ed.). White Plains, NY: Longman.Hammer, M.R. (2009). The Intercultural Development Inventory: An approach for assessing and building intercultural

competence (Chapter 16: 203-217). In M.A. Moodian (Ed.), Contemporary Leadership and Intercultural Competence. Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

Hudzik, J. K., & Stohl, M. (2009). Modelling assessment of outcomes and impacts from internationalisation. In H. de Wit, Measuring the Success of Internationalisation of Higher Education (pp. 9-22). Amsterdam: European Association for International Education.

Knight, J. (2004). Internationalization remodeled: Definitions, rationales and approaches. Journal for Studies in International Education 8(15), 5-31.

Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE). (2007) The National Higher Education Strategic Plan Beyond 2020. Putrajaya: MoHE.Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE). (2010). Malaysian education: Malaysia centre of educational excellence. Retrieved on

3rd June, 2011 from http://www.mohe.gov.my/educationmsia/education.php?article=malaysiaMinistry of Higher Education (MoHE). (2011). Higher Education Malaysia Internationalization Policy 2011. Putrajaya: MoHEOECD. (2009). OECD: Education at a Glance. Paris: OECD Publisher.Paige, R. M., Cohen, A. D., & Shively, R. L. (2004). Assessing the impact of a strategies-based curriculum on language and

culture learning abroad. Frontiers: The InterdisciplinaryJournal of Study Abroad, X, 253-276. Ramachandran, N. T. (2011). Enhancing international students’ experiences: An imperative agenda for universities in UK.

Journal of Research in International Education 10(2), 210-220. doi: 10.1177/1475240911413204Rohana Jani, Yong Zulina Zubairi, Huam, H.T., & Abdul Hafaz Ngah. (2010). International students’ views of Malaysian higher

education. Paper presented at Internationalisation and Marketing of Higher Education Malaysia Seminar, Putrajaya, Malaysia. Retrieved from: http://www.iranscap.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/International-Students-Views-of-Malaysian-Higher-Education-1.pdf (October, 10, 2011)

Sample, S. (2010). Intercultural development and the international curriculum. Retreived from http//:www.intercultural.org