Acculturation into UK academic practice: the experiences of international doctoral students and academic staff at two research-intensive universities

Description

This paper reports on a study funded by the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in ‘Preparing for Academic Practice’ at the University of Oxford. The study investigated how international doctoral students and international academic staff experience the process of acculturation into UK academic practice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 Chinese and Central/South American doctoral students and 8 Chinese lecturers – all from Science and Engineering disciplines at two research-intensive universities in England. The interviews explored the areas that facilitated or challenged the process of acculturation. Salient themes emerged around interpretations of academic practices, the role of relationships, the importance of disciplinary identities and cultural affiliations. These are discussed in relation to the significance of the ‘international university’ in facilitating acculturation. The study provides insight into aspects of academic practice that are universally experienced, and aspects that may be more situationally defined

Period	8 Dec 2009 - 10 Dec 2009
Held at	Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) Annual Conference 2009
Event type	Conference
Degree of Recognition	National