SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, EDUCATIONAL MOTIVATION AND GEO-CULTURAL COMFORTABILITY RELATED TO THE PROCESS OF ADAPTATION OF FRESHMAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN A ROMANIAN UNIVERSITY

Authors

  • Sofia SOCOLOV “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi
  • Catalina MUNTEANU “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi
  • Sinan ALWAN “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi
  • Camelia SOPONARU University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” Iasi
  • Magdalena IORGA “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi

Keywords:

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT, UNIVERSITY, MEDICAL STUDY, DISCRIMINATION, SATISFACTION

Abstract

Successfully integrating international students in a university is one of the main goal of an academic institution. Aim: To identify the characteristics of international students enrolled in first year of study. Material and methods: a number of 128 freshman international students from 23 countries were included in the research. The subjects had to complete a document with socio-demographic data and to answer to several items. Data was processed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 23. Results: 67 men (52.37%) and 61 women (47.66%) with an age of 19.59 ± 2.21 were included in the research. More than half of international students are fluent in three languages. 58.73% of students’ fathers and 67.97% of their mothers graduated from university. A number of 13 (N = 10.48%) declared that at least one of their parents is physician and almost half of them have at least one relative studying in the university. The levels of satisfaction with the relationship with colleagues, teachers and administrative staff are analyzed. Conclusions: International students have criteria for choosing their academic institutions. Universities and academic staff mast take into consideration their reasons used in choosing the institution and social, cultural, religious or daily life aspects must be supervised to help them become more integrated into the community.

Author Biographies

  • Sofia SOCOLOV, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi

    Faculty of Medicine

  • Catalina MUNTEANU, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi

    Faculty of Medicine

  • Sinan ALWAN, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi

    Faculty of Medicine

  • Camelia SOPONARU, University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” Iasi

    Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences

  • Magdalena IORGA, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi

    Faculty of Medicine

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Additional Files

Published

2017-12-22

Issue

Vol. 121 No. 4 (2017): The Medical-Surgical Journal

Section

PREVENTIVE MEDICINE - LABORATORY

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