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The cultural and educational transitioning of first generation immigrant undergraduate students in Quebec, Canada

  • Ada L. Sinacore
  • Sasha Lerner
Article
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Abstract

The diversity of Canadian society and the significance of education for occupational mobility have prompted investigations into immigrant’s educational attainment, yet little research examines immigrant post-secondary students. This phenomenological study illuminates the institutional, societal, educational, and psychosocial barriers facing immigrant undergraduates in Quebec, and examines their mentoring and career counselling needs. Recommendations for career counselling and university programming are discussed.

Keywords

Immigration Undergraduate Career 

Résumé

Les transitions culturelles et éducationnelles de la première génération d’immigrants étudiants de premier cycle au Québec, Canada. La diversité de la société canadienne et l’importance de la formation pour la mobilité professionnelle ont suscité des recherches sur le niveau de formation des immigrants, et pourtant peu de recherche se penchent sur les immigrants étudiants de niveau secondaire supérieur. Cette étude phénoménologique éclaire les obstacles institutionnels, sociaux, éducatifs et psychosociaux auxquels les étudiants immigrants de premier cycle font face au Québec, et examine leurs besoins en encadrement et en orientation professionnelle. Des recommandations pour l’orientation professionnelle et des programmes universitaires sont discutés.

Zusammenfassung

Der kulturelle und bildungsbezogene Übergang der ersten Generation von immigrierten Studenten im Grundstudium in Quebec, Kanada. Die Vielfalt der kanadischen Gesellschaft und die Bedeutung von Bildung für die berufliche Mobilität haben Untersuchungen zum Bildungserfolg von Einwanderern hervorgebracht, jedoch untersuchten nur wenige Studien immigrierte postsekundäre Studenten. Diese phänomenologische Studie beleuchtet die institutionellen, gesellschaftlichen, pädagogischen und psychosozialen Hindernisse, mit denen immigrierte Studenten in Quebec konfrontiert sind und untersucht ihre Bedürfnisse in Bezug auf Mentoring und Laufbahnberatung. Empfehlungen für Laufbahnberatung und Programmentwicklung an Universitäten werden diskutiert.

Resumen

La Transición Cultural y Educacional de la Primera Generación de Estudiantes de Pregrado Inmigrantes en Quebec, Canadá. La diversidad de la sociedad canadiense y la importancia de la educación para la movilidad profesional han incitado estudios sobre el logro educativo del inmigrante, sin embargo, pocas investigaciones examinan los estudiantes inmigrantes de post-secundaria. Este estudio fenomenológico ilumina las barreras institucionales, sociales, educativas y psicosociales que enfrentan los estudiantes inmigrantes en Quebec, y examina su tutoría y necesidades de orientación profesional. Recomendaciones para la orientación profesional y la programación universitaria se discuten.

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Notes

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a Grant from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Counselling Psychology Program, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, Faculty of EducationMcGill UniversityMontrealCanada

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