International students and work experience: mapping of key research themes - executive summary and recommendations

International students and work experience: mapping of key research themes - executive summary and recommendations

International students contribute greatly to the higher education sector in Australia. In 2016 alone, it was reported that approximately 440 000 international students enrolled in programs in Australian universities (Australian Government, 2016; DEEWR, 2009-2016), making the number of international students in Australia the third highest export beside iron ore and coal (Blakkarly, 2017). Moreover, the number of international students across the globe is consistently growing. For this reason it is critical that international students’ needs are met through effective and ongoing support.

Many international students have the desire to undertake work experience when living in another country (Ammigan & Jones, 2018). In fact, the international student barometer indicated the desire for international students to receive relevant career advice, work experience, leading to successful employment in their chosen fields (Garrett, 2014). Consequently, many programs international students study include a key work experience1 component. Such work experience has been referred to as work integrated learning (WIL), practicum, workplacement, field experience, clinical placement and/or internship in the literature (Barton, Hartwig, Bennett, Cain, Campbell, Ferns, Jones, Joseph, Kavanagh, Kelly, Larkin, O’Connor, Podorova, Tangen, & Westerveld, 2017).

Experience in the workplace can present differently for international students compared to their domestic counterparts (Bilsland, Nagy, & Smith, 2014). Not only do international students need to socialise into a new work environment they are often still adapting to the new university and cultural context in which they have been placed. Barton et al. (2017) describe this as a ‘multisocialisation’ process. Evidence in the literature shows that international students need more time to understand the local requirements and expectations in different workplaces (Rienties, Bart and Nolan, Eimear-Marie, 2014).

This executive summary therefore presents major themes encountered in a comprehensive search of the literature. It will firstly, share some insight into general areas related to international student experience and then secondly, relevant themes related to work experience. Finally, a number of recommendations will be presented to support international students during workplace-based experiences during study programs within Australia.