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Expatriate Students' Perceptions of Attendance and Persistence at a Private Malaysian Institution Jin Deng Walden University

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Expatriate Students' Perceptions of Attendance and Persistence at a Private Malaysian Institution Jin Deng Walden University Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2017 Expatriate Students' Perceptions of Attendance and Persistence at a Private Malaysian Institution Jin Deng Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Higher Education Administration Commons, and the Higher Education and Teaching Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University COLLEGE OF EDUCATION This is to certify that the doctoral study by Jin Deng has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Ieda Santos, Committee Chairperson, Education Faculty Dr. David Mathieu, Committee Member, Education Faculty Dr. Elsie Szecsy, University Reviewer, Education Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2017 Abstract Expatriate Students’ Perceptions of Attendance and Persistence at a Private Malaysian Institution by Jin Deng MSc, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2010 PG-Diploma, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2008 University Center César Ritz, 2008 PG-Diploma, University Center César Ritz, 2000 Associate, Sichuan Radio & Television University, 1997 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Walden University October 2017 Abstract Although Malaysia primarily relies on expatriates to develop its economy, a private Malaysian institution had not examined the retention of expatriate students who might contribute toward the country’s future economy. The problem that prompted this study was the institution showed low graduation rates for expatriate students and had not assessed the perceptions of key factors that impacted their attendance and persistence. The purpose of this study was to provide insights about expatriate students’ perceptions of key factors about attendance and persistence at the institution. Tinto’s longitudinal model of dropping out and the conceptual model guided this study. With a guiding question about students’ perceptions, specific research questions explored expatriate students’ perceptions of individual characteristics, the interactions within the institutional environment, and institutional characteristics that influenced their decisions to attend and persist at the institution. Qualitative data were collected using interviews from a purposeful sample of 5 expatriate students. Data were transcribed and coded inductively, resulting in 10 themes: Malaysia as a destination for higher education, the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) institution as an institution, supporting group, English language, past educational experiences, academic integration, commitment, social integration and institutional commitment, college quality, and institutional type. A white paper was proposed as a project that included recommendations to stakeholders. The positive social changes were to promote future expatriate students’ persistence and graduation rates, enhance their learning, and prepare them to be the future leaders in Malaysia, their country of origin, or elsewhere internationally. Expatriate Students’ Perceptions of Attendance and Persistence at a Private Malaysian Institution by Jin Deng MSc, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2010 PG-Diploma, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2008 University Center César Ritz, 2008 PG-Diploma, University Center César Ritz, 2000 Associate, Sichuan Radio & Television University, 1997 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Walden University October 2017 Dedication I dedicate this project study to my parents, without whom this project study would not have been possible. I appreciate all their support and understanding, especially during the last two years’ unexpected long transition. I also dedicate this study to my uncle who is also my godfather. Without his encouragement and support some years ago, I would not have a chance to pursue my further study abroad, which was a turning point in my life. Further, I would not be able to finance the doctoral study by myself one day. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago. He will be remembered for the rest of my life. Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge to my project study committee, Dr. Carol Spaulding, Dr. David Mathieu, and Dr. Elsie Szecsy for their support that assisted me in completing this study. As my Committee Chair Dr. Ieda Santos, who provided support, guidance, and encouragement, and for this, I sincerely appreciate. I also appreciate my second member Dr. David Mathieu, who showed me the directions and provided me expertise and guidance to continue this study especially when I was at the crossroad a few times. I am thankful to the University Research Reviewer Dr. Elsie Szecsy, whose feedback led me to expand my thinking and had a wider perspective about this study. I would appreciate to Mr. Martin Kisseleff, the former president of “César Ritz” Colleges, who inspired me to pursue the doctoral study. I would not take this step without the talk with you back in 2010. I also express my gratefulness to Mr. Georges Ortiz, my former lecturer and mentor for years, who helped me make it to attend the required residency. Sadly, he passed away in 2015. Like all your students, I miss your lectures and hiking trips with you while studying and visiting in Switzerland. I extend the deepest gratitude to the administrators at the study site for their support, trust, and understanding. I also appreciate the help from the participants and the whole Khor family who helped me in various ways while conducting the research in Malaysia. Otherwise, I would not have been able to complete this study. I express my gratitude to my former deans, colleagues, and church friends who encouraged me from time to time or kept me in prayers to complete this study. Finally, thanks to God for giving me strength and a sense of peace in my heart and mind to complete this study especially during the challenging times. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ......................................................................................................................v Section 1: The Problem ........................................................................................................1 The Local Problem .........................................................................................................2 Rationale ........................................................................................................................4 Definition of Terms........................................................................................................7 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................10 Guiding/Research Question(s) .....................................................................................12 Review of the Literature ..............................................................................................12 Implications..................................................................................................................26 Summary ......................................................................................................................27 Section 2: The Methodology ..............................................................................................29 Research Design and Approach ...................................................................................29 Participants ……. ..… ............................................................................................32 Procedures for Gaining Access to Participants ……………………..……….…..33 Establishing a Researcher-Participant Working Relationship ………… …….….36 Ethical Protection of Participants……………..………………..……….…….….36 Data Collection …………………………….……………………………….............. 37 Describe and Justify the Data Collection ……………..…….….…..……….…...38 Identify Data Collection Instrument and Source...…………………..………..….38 Gaining Access to Participants………….……....…………………..…….….…..39 i Data Collection Procedures…………………………...…….….…..……….…....40 Managing Collected data...……………………………….…...…….….….……. 41 Role of the Researcher…....…………………………...…….….…..……….…....42 Data Analysis ....................................................................................................................42 Evidence of Quality……....…………………………...…….….…..……….…... 45 Procedures for Dealing with Discrepant Cases ……………….………...…….…46 Results………………….. ..................................................................................................47 Interpretation of Findings from Data Analysis …….…..………………………………..74 Summary …………..…………………….………………………………………….…..87 Section 3: The Project ........................................................................................................89 Introduction ........................................................................................................................89
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