Abstract:

International students contribute uniquely to the diversity and richness of an education institution. However, most international students find it difficult to adapt to a new culture, and a new learning environment. Often these students feel intimidated and that they need to “catch up” to their peer domestic students, especially if they need to learn a new language. Until these international students acquire a sense of confidence and familiarity with their new learning environment, their learning and contribution to the rest of the learning community will be hampered. As such, international students should be provided as much support as possible to ensure their success in their studies and to provide opportunities for them to recognize their contributions in their new learning environment. This paper reports on the changes we have made at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Canada to help international students transition their studies into a North American context. BCIT has been providing international students who have completed the first two years of a Bachelor program in Computer Systems Technology overseas to continue their studies into the third year in Canada. We will report in this paper on three areas of competence where we have made significant changes to help these students to succeed in the program, namely English language proficiency, academic preparation for higher level courses, and practical experience with industries for future employment.

In the area of English language preparation, BCIT offers two different types of English training that the students need improvement on: ESL and communication skills. We distinguish these two areas because these are two very different skill sets that students need to be proficient in so that they can be successful in post secondary education in North America. In the area of academic preparation for advanced learning in higher level courses, we repackage some of our third year academic courses to include additional background to help students transition into the Canadian education easier. Students are given additional time and practical projects to help them bridge their past learning experiences with what is expected of them in the new learning environment. Finally, in the area of practical experience with industries, we provide students with real life industry projects to familiarize them with the tools, standards, and technologies used in North America. Students also learn the importance of teamwork, communication, and technical expertise in collaborative learning.