The fast growth in Chinese Direct Entrants (CDEs) in UK HEIs has led to many challenges for the whole sector. Apart from acculturative stress and depression experienced by some due to cultural differences (Wei et al., 2012; Zhu et al., 2008), many CDEs experience 'learning shock' (Griffith et al., 2005), characterised by acute frustration, confusion, and anxiety, as a result of differences between the UK and Chinese educational systems (Bradshaw, 2004).
In 2018-19, funded by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), the Cultural Insight project team led by Dr Crystal Tsay, designed and ran five bespoke workshops to this under-supported student group.
The programme of workshops effectively enhanced students' psychological capital of hope, resilience, and confidence, and cross-cultural adjustment. Qualitative feedback suggested students became more confident in developing social networks.
These workshops have helped freshers like me to integrate into English learning and life more quickly. The most useful help was to enhance my confidence in cross-cultural communications.
This year the current team members Dr Pi-Chi Chen, Dr Jing Luo, Dr Yang Yang, and PhD students Tatia Qu, and Sen Wang are running a programme of five workshops, taking place at Avery Hill and Greenwich campuses:
| Student Life in the UK (delivered in Mandarin) |
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| Your Voice, Your Community |
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| Cultural Chameleon |
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| Get out of Your Comfort Zone |
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| Celebrate Your Success |
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Cultural Insight 2018-19
Following the four key stages of Oberg's (1960) cultural shock and adjustment model, i.e. honeymoon, culture shock, cultural adjustment, and adaptation (see figure 1), each workshop theme was designed to provide CDEs with tools to develop psychological and social resources at each stage in the Oberg's (1960) model to manage the challenges of living and studying in the UK.
Figure 1 Cultural shock and adjustment model (Oberg, 1960)
We found that the programme was effective because it raised the institutional awareness of the needs of CDEs and generated training resources. We shared its impact internally and externally at the Business Faculty Teaching and Learning Festival in June 2019, and the UKCISA annual conference in July 2019. We are also presenting at the Society for Research into Higher Education annual conference in December 2019.
Based on the project, our recommendations for UK HEIs who wish to work effectively with CDEs are:
- To critically review how you work with CDEs, before implementing any workshop interventions with them.
- Provide role models, to whom CDEs can relate and trust, before offering any practical strategies and guidance.
- Make the extra-curricular workshops not only fun, playful, but also meaningful and intellectually stimulating.
Cultural Insight 2019-20
This year, with the support of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and the Business Faculty's Director of Learning and Teaching, the Cultural Insight project team will use an inclusive approach to introduce version 2.0 of the Cultural Insight workshops.
We want to expand our support from a CDE audience to all students at the university, aiming to create a learning environment where learners from different backgrounds can learn about the UK Higher Education (HE) system, the expectations of students, and how to develop cultural intelligence (CQ) to navigate in a culturally diverse environment.
In this welcoming, inclusive, and engaging learning community students can 1) share their study and life experiences, 2) vocalise their worries and concerns about study and life, 3) network with learners from different countries and provide peer support, 4) learn about how other students develop their employability skills, and 5) information of postgraduate studies and graduate careers.
If you would like to know more about the project, please contact Dr Crystal Tsay, Sen Wang or a member of the project team.
