Mr Van Joe Ibay1, Ms. Henna Chhabra1
1University Of Canberra, Bruce, Australia
Adapting and assimilating into a new environment is challenging to international students coming into Australia to advance their skills and academic qualifications. Geared to be honed with Australian education for global competitiveness entails facing the process of adaptation, a new ecosystem, people, norms and most of all an education system anew. In facing this environment, international students need all the support possible from the time of arrival in Australia. These student and university interface happens under the portfolio of the International Student Support Services for the University of Canberra. A support service package for international students in the form of UC Orientation Sessions for International Students. In this paper we explore the significance of international students’ abilities to adapt and familiarize with their new “University Environment”. It further explores how orientation sessions become adaptation enablers which contributes to the probability of students’ successes toward their academic progression to graduation. Findings suggests that international students who attended student orientation sessions become more familiar with the University Environment during orientation week and thread faster than other students in understanding the University Environment during the succeeding weeks of their program. The study suggests that Higher Education Providers in Australia should focus on this crucial stage of the international student’s journey to ensure the confidence and ability to adapt with the new academic life. Study maintains the use of orientation sessions can serve as feed forward and feedback mechanisms for education providers assist future and current student’s progression to successful program completion.
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