"I just developed a passion for the university and its academic excellence"
One of the most exciting things one can possibly do in one’s lifetime is to continue one’s studies in another country. It may well be the magic ingredient one needs to experience the taste of sweet success. Most likely one of the most interesting, educationally stimulating experiences of one’s life! The question is: how equipped are South African universities to offer world-class education?
The North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom Campus is currently the study destination of choice for 3 894 international students from 52 countries, also for full-time, part-time, contact and distance-based modalities. In May 2014, a survey of the current contact international students on this campus was conducted in order to understand:
– student mobility to South Africa;
– their reasons for choosing South Africa as a study destination;
– their selection of the North-West University Potchefstroom Campus in particular;
– information about their learning and living experiences;
– their satisfaction levels; and
– their future plans.
This study formed part of a larger independent Fulbright Scholarship Research Study about international students in South Africa conducted by Professor Jenny Lee from the University of Arizona.
Respondents in this survey were 53% male and 47% female, with the highest continental representation from Africa (81%), followed by Europe (13%), Asia (4%) and North America (2%).
When choosing to study in South Africa, the “very important” or “most important” range showed that academic, geographical, social and cultural reasons prompted the choice of study destination. These are further disaggregated as follows:
– the expectation of better future jobs with a South African education;
– the opportunity for academic research in South Africa;
– the geographical location of South Africa close to their home country;
– family or friends in South Africa; and
– to experience South African culture.
The top five factors that influenced international students’ choice to study at the North-West University Potchefstroom Campus were clustered around academic and economic reasons:
– interest in a specific educational programme at the NWU Potchefstroom Campus;
– a better quality of higher education compared to the home country;
– the opportunity for research with a professor at the NWU;
– the best university that they could gain admission to; and
– the offer of financial assistance.
In describing the NWU as their choice of institution of choice, students said:
– “They exhibited excellent people skills and gave prompt responses to all enquiries, which made the entire process easier.
– “I received very good reviews in terms of quality of programmes, especially doctoral.
– “I just developed a passion for the university and also for its academic excellence.
– “I felt more safe and comfortable at the NWU than I did visiting other universities. The NWU Potchefstroom is very organised and safe.
– “Good quality education in a friendly environment.
– “There are good research opportunities, and it has a better academic system than what I was exposed to earlier.”
According to Dr Shernice Soobramoney, director the NWU International Office, the survey results confirm that a high percentage of international students are “satisfied” or “extremely satisfied” with their living and learning experience. “The key finding of the survey was that 92% of international student respondents are ‘extremely satisfied’ with their overall university experience.”
She adds that the highest degree of satisfaction with the NWU lies with academic resources (98%), campus safety (92%), course availability (90%), technology and computer laboratories (89%), quality of professors and lecturers (89%), local community safety (87%), helpfulness of administrators and staff (83%) and educational costs (80%).
“Studying at the Potchefstroom Campus has a positive academic impact on international students. Compared to when the international students first started at this institution, in the survey they now describe their knowledge of a particular field or discipline as much stronger. Their general knowledge has also improved, as well as their research skills, academic writing skills and their ability to solve problems. Their knowledge of South Africa is also much stronger, as well as their preparation for a job, the ability to understand people from different cultures and the ability to work co-operatively,” Soobramoney says.
Results also indicated that during their stay at the Potchefstroom Campus, the international students felt that they experienced little or no difficulty with their personal life, social life, and academic life. They indicated that the backgrounds of their friends at the Potchefstroom Campus were mostly South African students or an equal measure of local and international students, indicating a good degree of social integration.
The results also painted a good picture of experiences with other students. The majority of the students felt that they had never been treated disrespectfully or unfairly in South Africa, either on campus or off campus due either to their sexual orientation, religion or gender. Most international students felt that that in comparison to local South African students, they were treated well by professors or lecturers, by classmates, by people outside the classroom but within the university, by administrative staff on campus and people outside the university. Communicating in the English language was easy for the international students, as was making friends with other international students.
South Africa features high in the future higher education plans of the international students, with 83% indicating that they wish to complete their current education degree in the country, and 41% wishing to pursue their next education degree here.
“International students were found to be overall ‘very satisfied’ with their international experience, and 89% would recommend the North-West University to friends and family in their home country. These findings support the view of the NWU being a premier destination for international students,” says Soobramoney.