Learning About Internationalization While Learning: Unveiling International Students’ Experiences Through a Decolonial Lens

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 3:20 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: International Student Engagement, Motivation, and Achievement (Table 11)

Abstract

This study explores the experiences of international students in Canada, focusing on their motivations, academic and social challenges, and self-formation. Adopting a decolonial approach, it examines power dynamics, colonial legacies, and cultural disparities, moving beyond deficit narratives. Using qualitative research and critical discourse analysis, the study conducts semi-structured interviews with international engineering master's students to investigate their learning journeys and discourses. The analysis highlights the contrast between campus life and broader society, the gap between international education imaginary and reality, and the importance of amplifying international students' voices. Findings suggest the significance of their role in global education landscape and emphasize the need for a decolonial lens to understand their lived experiences and ideologies.

Authors

• Ezgi Ozyonum, Concordia University - Montreal

• Tanja Tajmel, Concordia University - Montreal