Unpacking Syrian international students’ expectations, challenges and future selves in Kazakhstan: a qualitative inquiry
Hajar A. Yessenbekova K.
2026Routledge
Language and Intercultural Communication
2026#26Issue 2244 - 260 pp.
This qualitative study, grounded in a poststructuralist perspective, examines the educational experiences of seven Syrian male medical students at a public university in Kazakhstan. Through two rounds of semi-structured interviews, it examines their motivations, challenges, coping strategies, and post-graduation plans. Key motivations included affordability, international accreditation, and English-medium instruction. Challenges involved linguistic barriers, financial hardship, and limited institutional support for work and integration. Some instructors low English proficiency also hindered academic engagement. Despite being generally satisfied with the education quality, most participants were hesitant to remain after graduation. The study calls for improved policy coordination to better support international students.
challenges , intercultural citizenship , Kazakhstan , pedagogical interventions , study abroad experience , Syrian international students
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Graduate School of Education, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Graduate School of Education
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026