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International Student Motivations and Experiences in Small to Mid-Sized Universities in Remote Canada: A Scoping Review

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Title: International Student Motivations and Experiences in Small to Mid-Sized Universities in Remote Canada: A Scoping Review
Language: English
Authors: Xuechen Yuan (ORCID 0000-0003-4378-2287), Osagie Okonufua, Muhammad Kiani
Source: Journal of International Students. 2025 15(9):179-204.
Availability: Journal of International Students. 4005 Spurgeon Drive #6, Monroe, LA 71203. Tel: 318-600-5743; Fax: 318-342-3131; e-mail: jis@ojed.org; Web site: https://www.ojed.org/index.php/jis/index
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Foreign Students, College Students, Student Motivation, Student Experience, Small Colleges, Rural Colleges, Immigration, Educational Policy, Educational Change, School Holding Power, Acculturation, Adjustment (to Environment), Student Personnel Services, Faculty Development, Curriculum Development, Partnerships in Education
Geographic Terms: Canada
ISSN: 2162-3104
2166-3750
Abstract: Canada is undergoing significant changes in its immigration policies to reduce the number of study permits and educational pathways for immigration; thus, understanding the realities of small- to mid-sized universities in remote regions potentially affected by this shift is imperative. However, international student motivations and experiences in these contexts remain underexplored in the literature. This scoping review investigates 21 English-language studies conducted in Canadian universities with student enrollment under 20,000, which examine international students' push-pull dynamics, lived experiences, and postgraduate retention. Key pull factors include postgraduate immigration pathways, English and cultural immersion, perceptions of safety and affordability, and inclusive school admission; meanwhile, academic pressure, parental expectations, and career-related concerns are major push factors. For lived experiences, recurring themes emerged, encompassing areas such as cultural adjustment, social attachment, language learning, institutional support, and systemic challenges--all of which shape decisions to remain or relocate after graduation. A mismatch between expectations and reality is identified in terms of the cultural responsiveness of school services and access to community resources. Overall, the findings highlight the need for a more proactive and sustainable institutional internationalization strategy to support student services, critical internationalization training for staff/faculty, inclusive curriculum development, incentives for staff commitment, and partnerships with local stakeholders. These calls resonate with Canada's evolving immigration policies for remote universities to better attract, support, and retain international students amid global turmoil.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1484204
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: International Student Motivations and Experiences in Small to Mid-Sized Universities in Remote Canada: A Scoping Review
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xuechen+Yuan%22">Xuechen Yuan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4378-2287">0000-0003-4378-2287</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Osagie+Okonufua%22">Osagie Okonufua</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Muhammad+Kiani%22">Muhammad Kiani</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+International+Students%22"><i>Journal of International Students</i></searchLink>. 2025 15(9):179-204.
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  Data: Journal of International Students. 4005 Spurgeon Drive #6, Monroe, LA 71203. Tel: 318-600-5743; Fax: 318-342-3131; e-mail: jis@ojed.org; Web site: https://www.ojed.org/index.php/jis/index
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  Data: 25
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Students%22">Foreign Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Motivation%22">Student Motivation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Small+Colleges%22">Small Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Colleges%22">Rural Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Immigration%22">Immigration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Policy%22">Educational Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Change%22">Educational Change</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Holding+Power%22">School Holding Power</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Acculturation%22">Acculturation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adjustment+%28to+Environment%29%22">Adjustment (to Environment)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Personnel+Services%22">Student Personnel Services</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Faculty+Development%22">Faculty Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Curriculum+Development%22">Curriculum Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Partnerships+in+Education%22">Partnerships in Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Canada%22">Canada</searchLink>
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  Data: 2162-3104<br />2166-3750
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Canada is undergoing significant changes in its immigration policies to reduce the number of study permits and educational pathways for immigration; thus, understanding the realities of small- to mid-sized universities in remote regions potentially affected by this shift is imperative. However, international student motivations and experiences in these contexts remain underexplored in the literature. This scoping review investigates 21 English-language studies conducted in Canadian universities with student enrollment under 20,000, which examine international students' push-pull dynamics, lived experiences, and postgraduate retention. Key pull factors include postgraduate immigration pathways, English and cultural immersion, perceptions of safety and affordability, and inclusive school admission; meanwhile, academic pressure, parental expectations, and career-related concerns are major push factors. For lived experiences, recurring themes emerged, encompassing areas such as cultural adjustment, social attachment, language learning, institutional support, and systemic challenges--all of which shape decisions to remain or relocate after graduation. A mismatch between expectations and reality is identified in terms of the cultural responsiveness of school services and access to community resources. Overall, the findings highlight the need for a more proactive and sustainable institutional internationalization strategy to support student services, critical internationalization training for staff/faculty, inclusive curriculum development, incentives for staff commitment, and partnerships with local stakeholders. These calls resonate with Canada's evolving immigration policies for remote universities to better attract, support, and retain international students amid global turmoil.
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1484204
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 25
        StartPage: 179
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Motivation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Small Colleges
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rural Colleges
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Immigration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Holding Power
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Acculturation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adjustment (to Environment)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Personnel Services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Faculty Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Curriculum Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Partnerships in Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Canada
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: International Student Motivations and Experiences in Small to Mid-Sized Universities in Remote Canada: A Scoping Review
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            NameFull: Xuechen Yuan
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            NameFull: Osagie Okonufua
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              Y: 2025
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              Value: 2166-3750
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