Understanding Chinese International Students' Struggle in Canadian University during COVID-19: A Literature Review

Authors

  • Chunlei Liu York University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25071/28169344.33

Keywords:

COVID-19, Pandemic, Chinese International Students, Canada, Universities

Abstract

The economic impact of international students in Canada is tremendous. As the enrollment of domestic students has decreased, the admission of overseas students has made up for the financial losses that Canadian institutions suffer due to the drop in domestic student enrollment. China is a significant exporter of international students to Canada, sending a sizable number of them there yearly. Chinese international students' entrance to Canadian universities is being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This article contends that because of their temporary immigration status, international students in Canada are at risk. It does this by drawing on the literature analysis approach. They are not included in the majority of government assistance initiatives intended to assist Canadians during this outbreak. The majority of overseas students struggle financially and psychologically as a result of the pandemic. The circumstance is causing a further drop in the admittance of international students, with economic repercussions for Canadian institutions. The report advances our knowledge of the struggles faced by international students and educational institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic by examining the issues they face as well as the methods needed to increase their resilience and universities' capacity.

References

Anan, C., Chunfeng, X., Shuxin, L., Lirui, K., Jingjing, Y. & Chang, L. (2020). Investigation on the mental health status and risk factors among Chinese overseas students under COVID-19 outbreak. Research Square. https://doi. org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-35535/v1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-35535/v1

Bell, D. (1987). And we are not saved: The elusive quest for racial justice. Basic Books.

Callahan, W. A. (2017). Dreaming as a critical discourse of national belonging: China Dream, American Dream and world dream. Nations and Nationalism, 23(2), 248-270. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nana.12296

Buckner, E., Morales, S., Brown, T., & Clerk, S. (2021). Trends 13 in international student enrollments in Canadian community colleges. In G. F. Malveaux & K. Bista (Eds.), International Students at US Community Colleges: Opportunities, Challenges, and Successes (pp. 203-214). Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003121978-16

Busteed, S. (2022). Communication and the student experience in the time of Covid-19: An autoethnography. Language Teaching Research. 0(0). https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/10.1177/13621688211067001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13621688211067001

Chen, J., & Zhou, G. (2019). Chinese international students’ sense of belonging in North American postsecondary institutions: A critical literature review. Brock Education Journal, 28(2), 48-63. https://doi.org/10.26522/brocked.v28i2.642 DOI: https://doi.org/10.26522/brocked.v28i2.642

Coulton, M. (2022, December 15). How the pandemic has disrupted the lives of international students in Canada. Maclean's Education. https://education.macleans.ca/feature/how-the-pandemic-has-disrupted-the-lives-of-international-students-in-canada/

Howlett, M. (2022). Looking at the ‘field’ through a Zoom lens: Methodological reflections on conducting online research during a global pandemic. Qualitative Research, 22(3), 387-402. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794120985691

Hu, R., & Trenkic, D. (2019). The effects of coaching and repeated test-taking on Chinese candidates’ IELTS scores, their English proficiency, and subsequent academic achievement. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 24(10), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2019.1691498 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2019.1691498

Hu, Y., Xu, C. L., & Tu, M. (2022). Family-mediated migration infrastructure: Chinese international students and parents navigating (im) mobilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese Sociological Review, 54(1), 62-87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21620555.2020.1838271

Hune-Brown, N. (2021, December 15). Students for Sale. PressReader. https://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-walrus/20210901/281513639190501

Ji, L. (2021). A Study of Chinese International Students’ Online Learning Experience in a Post-Secondary Institution in Canada (Doctoral dissertation, University of Windsor (Canada)).

Jiang, C. (2020, December 14). Tuition, mental wellness, and Sino-Phobia: Chinese international students have unique concerns facing another semester online, survey shows. The Varsity. https://thevarsity.ca/2020/09/13/tuition-mental-wellness-and-sino-phobia-chinese-international-students-have-unique-concerns-facing-another-semester-online-survey-shows/

Lian, Z., Wallace, B. C., & Fullilove, R. E. (2020). Mental health help-seeking intentions among Chinese international students in the US higher education system: The role of coping self-efficacy, social support, and stigma for seeking psychological help. Asian American Journal of Psychology, 11(3), 147. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/aap0000183

Liu, T. (2016). Learning experience of Chinese international students in Master of Education program at a mid-sized Ontario University (Doctoral dissertation, University of Windsor (Canada)).

Moir, M. (2020, December 15). Despite hesitations, these Chinese students say they still plan to study in Canada. University Affairs. https://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/despite-hesitations-these-chinese-students-say-they-still-plan-to-study-in-canada/

Mok, K. H., Xiong, W., Ke, G., & Cheung, J. O. W. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on international higher education and student mobility: Student perspectives from mainland China and Hong Kong. International Journal of Educational Research, 105(Complete), 101718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2020.101718 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2020.101718

Mok, K. H., Xiong, W., & Ke, G. (2022). Reimagining Higher Education in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Chinese Students’ Desires for Overseas Learning and Implications for University Governance. Higher Education Policy, 1-19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41307-022-00273-1

Myles, J., & Cheng, L. (2003). The social and cultural life of non-native English-speaking international graduate students at a Canadian university. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 2(3), 247-263. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1475-1585(03)00028-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1475-1585(03)00028-6

O'Sullivan, M. W., & Guo, L. (2010). Critical thinking and Chinese international students: An East-West dialogue. Journal of contemporary issues in education, 5(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.20355/C5NK5Z

Palmer, Y. M. (2016). Student to scholar: Learning experiences of international students. Journal of international students, 6(1), 216-240. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v6i1.489

Stacey, V. (2022). Survey points psychological, academic, and financial stress in Canada. RSS 20. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from https://thepienews.com/news/survey-points-psychological-academic-and-financial-stress-in-canada/

Simamora, R. M. (2020). The Challenges of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: An essay analysis of performing arts education students. Studies in Learning and Teaching, 1(2), 86-103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.46627/silet.v1i2.38

Suen, F.-Y. (2021, December 15). End-of-life from a Chinese Canadian perspective. CBC news. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/end-of-life-from-a-chinese-canadian-perspective-1.996473

Varughese, A., & Schwartz, S. (2022, December 14). The pandemic exposed the vulnerability of international students in Canada. Carleton Newsroom. https://newsroom.carleton.ca/story/pandemic-international-students-vulnerability/

Xiao, M. (2021). Chinese international graduate students at Canadian universities: Language barriers, cultural identities and perceived problems of engagement. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 1-18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2021.1941318

Xinhua Net. (2020, September 28). Most Chinese students in Canada dislike online learning amid pandemic: Report. Xinhua. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-09/28/c_139402119.htm

Yang, C. (2017). Problems Chinese international students face during academic adaptation in English-speaking higher institutions (1828) [Master’s thesis, University of Victoria].

Yue, R. P. H., Lau, B. H., Chan, C. L., & Ng, S. M. (2021). Risk perception as a double-edged sword in policy compliance in COVID-19 pandemic? A two-phase evaluation from Hong Kong. Journal of Risk Research, 1-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/g523h

Downloads

Published

2023-07-31

How to Cite

Liu, C. (2023). Understanding Chinese International Students’ Struggle in Canadian University during COVID-19: A Literature Review. YU-WRITE: Journal of Graduate Student Research in Education, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.25071/28169344.33

Similar Articles

1 2 3 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.