A Study of the Academic Challenges Faced by Chinese Students Studying in Malaysia Public University: A Focus on the Post-pandemic Era

Abstract

This study investigated the learning experiences of Chinese students in Malaysian public universities during the late stage of the pandemic. A combination of convenience sampling and snowball sampling was used to select 12 Chinese international students currently studying at Malaysian public universities for focus group interviews. The use of focus groups provided a broader and more in-depth perspective for the research, aiming to explore the academic challenges faced by Chinese students studying in Malaysian public universities. The research findings from the focus group indicate that Chinese international students in Malaysian public universities are facing numerous academic challenges in the later stages of the pandemic, such as language barriers, teaching differences, internet obstacles, and study loneliness. Despite these academic challenges, most of them maintain a positive attitude and have a high motivation to adapt to different educational environments. Most students hold a positive attitude towards the educational regulations of the host university. Moreover, it has been discovered that effective communication between lecturers and students remains to be a crucial factor in international students’ adaptation to the teaching system of the host country. The findings of this study can further enhance our understanding of students’ learning experiences during the latter stages of a pandemic, the academic challenges they encounter, and the successful strategies for dealing with such challenges. Based on this research, recommendations can be provided to enhance the academic abilities of international students.