Skip to main content
Log in

Internationalization of British Universities: Learning from the Experiences of International Counselling Students

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This retrospective qualitative study investigated the experiences of 12 international students in a postgraduate counselling programme at a higher education (HE) institution in the UK. Results from an earlier empirical study on these students (Pattison, Counselling and Psychotherapy Research 3: 107–113, 2003) were mapped against concepts derived from a content analysis of Turner and Robson’s (2008) work on the internationalization of HE institutions. The focus is on what can be learned from the perceptions of participants when reframed and reviewed through an internationalization lens. The paper suggests ways in which British universities can enhance the development of academic and intercultural competencies and support the international counselling student to receive an internationalized HE experience.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bamford, J. K. (2008). Improving international students’ experience of studying in the UK. http://www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk/showcase/bamford_international. Accessed 21/08/12.

  • Bartram, B. (2007). The sociocultural needs of international students in higher education: a comparison of staff and student views. Journal of Studies in International Education, 11(2), 205–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennell, B., & Pearce, T. (2003). The internationalization of higher education: exporting education to developing and transitional economies. International Journal of Educational Development, 23, 215–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bergan, S., & Restoueix, P. (Eds.). (2009). Intercultural dialogue on campus. Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohm, A., Follari, M., Hewett, A., Jones, S., Kemp, N., Meares, D. et al. (2004). Vision 2020: Forecasting international student mobility, a UK perspective. British Council. Retreived November, 10, 2010, from http://www.britishcouncil.org/eumd_-_vision_2020.pdf.

  • British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (2010). Counselling response to Health Professions Council consultation. Retreived October, 24, 2010,from http://www.bacp.co.uk/news/index.php?newsld=1603.

  • Cadman, K. (2000). Voices in the air: evaluations of the learning experiences of international postgraduates and their supervisors. Teaching in Higher Education, 5(4), 475–491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caruana, V., & Spurling, N. (2007). The internationalisation of UK higher education: A review of selected material. London: Higher Education Academy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Causey, V., Thomas, C., & Armento, B. (1999). Cultural diversity is basically a foreign term to me: the challenges of diversity for pre-service teacher education. Teaching and Teacher Education, 16(6), 33–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, D., Leong, F. T. L., & Geist, R. (1993). Cultural differences in psychological distress between Asian and Caucasian American college students. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 21(3), 182–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung, Y. B. (1993). Education of international counselling psychology students in the United States. Asian Journal of Counselling, 11(2), 55–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Vita, G. (2007). Taking stock: an appraisal of the literature on internationalizing HE learning. In E. Jones & S. Brown (Eds.), Internationalising higher education (pp. 154–167). Abingdon, Oxon, UK: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Vita, G., & Case, P. (2003). Rethinking the internationalisation agenda in UK higher education. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 27(4), 383–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerstein, L., & Aegisdottir, S. (2005). A trip around the world: a counselling travelogue. Journal of Mental Health Counselling, 27(2), 95–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Higher Education Statistics Agency (2010). Student statistics. Retreived February, 10, 2011, from: http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_datatables&Itemid=121&task=show_category&catdex=3.

  • Hockings, C. (2010). Inclusive learning and teaching in higher education: A synthesis of research. Retreived August 10, 2011, from http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/evidence,net.

  • Humfrey, C. (2009). Transnational education and the student experience: A PMI student experience project report: Prime Ministers initiative for international education. London: UK Council for International Student Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Association of Universities (2000). Statement on internationalization:Towards a century of cooperation: Internationalization of higher education. Prepared for the UNESCO World Conference in Higher Education, 1998 and formally adopted by the 11th IAU General Conference as part of the IAU Policy 2000.1–2. Retrieved October 15, 2010, from http://www.iau-aiu.net/content/policy-statements-0.

  • Lau, J., & Ng, K.-M. (2011). Effectiveness and relevance of training for international counselling graduates: a qualitative inquiry. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 34(1), 87–105. doi:10.1007/s10447-011-9128-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lau, J., & Ng, K.-M. (2012). Effectiveness and relevance of training for international counseling graduates: A Qualitative Inquiry. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 34(1), 87–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leonard, D., Pelletier, C., & Morley, L. (2003). The experiences of international students in UK higher education: A review of unpublished research: Project report. London: The Council for International Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leong, R. T. L., & Ponterotto, J. G. (2003). A proposal for internationalizing counselling psychology in the United States: rationales, recommendations, and challenges. The Counselling Psychologist, 31, 381–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leung, A. (2003). Counselling training in Hong Kong: challenges and possibilities. Asian Journal of Counselling, 10(2), 235–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsella, A. J., & Pedersen, P. (2004). Internationalizing the counselling psychology curriculum: toward new values, competencies, and directions. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 17, 413–423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery, C. (2009). A decade of internationalisation: has it influenced students’ views of cross-cultural group work at university? Journal of Studies in International Education, 13(2), 256–270. doi:10.1177/1028315308329790.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery, C. & McDowell, L. (2008). Social networks and the international student experience: A community of practice? Journal of Studies in International Education, 12(3), online first.

  • Morrow, S. L. (2007). Qualitative research in counselling psychology: conceptual foundations. The Counselling Psychologist, 35, 209–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ng, K.-M. (2006). Counsellor educators’ perceptions of and experiences with international students. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 28(1), 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (2007). Globalisation and higher education. Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pattison, S. (2003). Cultural diversity: mapping the experiences of students on an international counsellor training programme. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 3(2), 107–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qiang, Z. (2003). Internationalization of higher education: towards a conceptual framework. Policy Futures in Education, 1(2), 248–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quaye, S. J., & Harper, S. R. (2007). Faculty accountability for culturally inclusive pedagogy and curricula. Liberal Education. Retrieved November, 22, 2010, from https://www.aacu.org/liberaleducation/le-su07/le-su07_perspective.cfm.

  • Robson, S., & Turner, Y. (2007). Teaching is a co-learning experience: academics reflecting on learning and teaching in an internationalized faculty. Teaching in Higher Education, 12(1), 41–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, J. (Ed.). (2012). Cross-cultural teaching and learning for home and international students: Internationalisation of pedagogy and curriculum in higher education. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schön, D. (1991). The reflective turn: Case studies in and on educational practice. New York: Teachers College Press.

  • Teichler, U. (2004). Temporary study abroad: the life of ERASMUS students. European Journal of Education, 39(4), 395–408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, Y., & Robson, S. (2008). International students. In Y. Turner & S. Robson (Eds.), Internationalizing the university: An introduction for university teachers and managers (pp. 54–69). London: Continuum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • UK Council for International Student Affairs. (2007). International students and culture shock: UKCOSA guidance note for students. London: UKCISA.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Kingdom Council for International Education. (2004). International students in UK universities and colleges: Broadening our horizons: Report of the UKOSA survey. London: UKOSA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Usher, A., & Green, L. (2009). Bologna and beyond. Toronto ON: Educational Policy Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Wende, M. (2007). Internationalization of higher education in the OECD countries: challenges and opportunities for the coming decade. Journal of Studies in International Education, 1(3–4), 274–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Werth, J. L., Cummings, D. L., & Thompson, M. N. (2008). Legal and ethical issues affecting counselling psychologists. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Handbook of counselling psychology (4th ed., pp. 3–20). Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, D. (2003). Using research instruments: A toolkit for researchers. London: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (2010a). World health statistic. Geneva: WHO Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2010b). Young people: Health risks and solutions. Fact Sheet No 345. Retreived September 26, 2010. from http:www.who.int.mediacentre/factsheets/fs345/en/.

  • Yoo, Y. J., DeFrain, J., Lee, I., Kim, S., Hong, S., & Choi, H. (2005). Korean family strengths research project. Korean Research Foundation. Seoul, Korea: Institute of Korean Family Strengths and Khyunghee University.

  • Yoo, S. H., Matsumoto, D., & LeRoux, J. A. (2006). The influence of emotion recognition and emotion regulation on intercultural adjustment. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 30, 345–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zepke, N., & Leach, L. (2005). Integration and adaptation: approaches to the student retention and achievement puzzle. Active Learning in Higher Education, 6(1), 46–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sue Pattison.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pattison, S., Robson, S. Internationalization of British Universities: Learning from the Experiences of International Counselling Students. Int J Adv Counselling 35, 188–202 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-012-9176-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-012-9176-2

Keywords

Navigation