Learning Issues and Learning Problems of Confucian Heritage Culture Students Studying Hospitality and Tourism Management in Australia

• Published in: Journal of teaching in travel & tourism Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 1 - 17
• Main Author: Barron, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Binghampton,NY Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.2007; Haworth Press
• Subjects: Asian students; Chinese culture; Chinese students; Cognitive style; Confucianism; Cultural differences; Focus groups; Higher education; International students; Interviews; Learning activities; learning issues; Learning problems; Learning strategies; Management education; Sociology; Sociology of education. Educational systems. Lifelong education; Student adjustment; Student attitudes; university strategies; Australia; Higher Education; University; International students; Education; university strategies; learning problems; Foreign Student; Asian students; learning issues
• ISSN: 1531-3220; 1531-3239
• DOI: 10.1300/J172v06n04_01

International education is one of Australia's largest industries and the fees generated by international students are becoming increasingly important to the budgetary health of Australian universities. It has been found that the majority of international students studying at higher-education level in Australia are from Asia and that these students have unique needs and requirements and consequently experience a range of learning issues and problems associated with the move to a western education environment. Concentrating on students who are of Chinese nationality or ethnicity, or who come from countries that share a common Confucian heritage, this paper reports on research that examines students' learning experiences, identifies differences in educational approaches and highlights specific problems and issues regarding students' learning experiences. This research found that these students had to make substantial changes to their educational approach and were required to become involved in a variety of new and unusual classroom situations and had to cope with potentially uncomfortable learning situations. This research suggests that western universities and western academics might take a more proactive approach regarding the learning experience of such students.