Effects of cultural intelligence, government policies and host country national characteristics on international student adjustment and performance
International student cross-cultural adjustment at the host country has attracted researchers’ attention over the years, especially with the phenomenal proliferation and internationalisation of higher education in response to globalisation. The international student encounters problems of cross-c...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/70818/1/FEP%202017%2011%20IR.pdf |
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| Summary: | International student cross-cultural adjustment at the host country has attracted
researchers’ attention over the years, especially with the phenomenal proliferation
and internationalisation of higher education in response to globalisation. The
international student encounters problems of cross-cultural adjustment at the country
of choice due to unfamiliar cultural environment. The international student’s crosscultural
adjustment has close relationship to student performance at the destination
of choice in the literature (Taufiki & Dawi, 2014; Wan, et al., 2013). This study
explores the predictive relevance of the following driver constructs: Cultural
Intelligence (CQ), Host Country National Characteristics (HCNc) Government
Policies (GP) on the following dependent variables-Cross-Cultural Adjustment
(CCA) and Student Performance (SP). This is based on Ang, et al’s., (2007)
recommendations to test the robustness of the predictive capabilities of Cultural
Intelligence on Cross-Cultural Adjustment in terms of individual difference,
ethnocentrism, geographical scope and social identity. Equally, the mediating effect
of Cross-Cultural Adjustment on Student Performance was tested and the
moderating effect of Host Country National Characteristics on Cross-Cultural
Adjustment and Student Performance tested. The outcome serve as bases for
recommendations to policy makers and future researchers of the significance of
these constructs to international student retention effort by host countries.
Because of the complex nature of this study model, the matching robustness of the
Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling software (PLS-SEM) makes it
to be the most appropriate software for analysing the data set for this study. The
survey approach employed to collect data from 214 international students from
two Malaysian public universities using a multi-method approach. The beta coefficient, coefficient of determination and predictive relevance of the
driver constructs were analysed for Cross-Cultural Adjustment and Student
Performance, the results indicates statistical significance. Then, the effect size (f2 &
q2) of the driver constructs were also tested with small effect sizes. All the
hypothesised relationships were supported at 95% confidence interval with
corresponding t-values above the 1.96 threshold value. This was followed by the test
of the total effect of the driver constructs on the ultimate dependent variable-Student
Performance, the result indicated that Government Policies has the highest total
effect on the student performance construct, this was followed by Cultural
Intelligence and lastly by the Host Country National Characteristic construct.
However, the hypothesised model mediation and moderation tests failed, but after a
systematic post hoc procedure the Cultural Intelligence construct was expunge a
competing model emerged. This new model was used in testing mediation, the
Cross-Cultural Adjustment construct now fully mediated the Host Country National
Characteristic—Student Performance relationship, however; Government
Policies—Student Performance relationship was not mediated. The moderating
effect of Host Country National Characteristics construct on the Government
Policies—Student Performance relationship was supported, but did not moderate the
Cross-Cultural Adjustment—Student Performance and the Government Policies-
Cross-Cultural Adjustment relationships.
In summary, the analysis results so far proved that Government Policies is the most
significant in predicting Student Performance, the Cross-Cultural Adjustment
construct is a full mediator to the Host Country National Characteristic—Student
Performance relationship, and finally, Host Country National moderates the
relationship between Government Policies and Student Performance relationship.
Suggestions to policy makers and recommendations to future researchers are in the
implications to practice and recommendations sections of this thesis (Section 7.6). |
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