Chinese Students and the Experience of International Doctoral Study in STEM: Using a Multi-World Model to Understand Challenges and Success (Routledge Studies in Global Student Mobility)

This volume examines the diversified and challenging experiences of Chinese international STEM doctoral students at Australian institutes of higher education, exploring how intersections between research, personal life, and social experiences can be negotiated to achieve academic success and personal transformation. By drawing on a range of qualitative and longitudinal research methods, the book foregrounds student narratives and utilizes a novel three-dimensional multi-world framework as an effective approach for understanding student experiences in a holistic way. It integrates Chinese philosophical perspectives and theories in the fields of educational psychology, international education, and doctoral education to interpret the nuances, complexity, and particularities of the cross-cultural STEM PhD experience, highlighting the importance of the supervisor–mentee relationship and the role of students’ cultural, social, and philosophical values in supporting their successful completion of the PhD degree. The analysis thus provides new insights into the ways in which these experiences vary across students, and might apply in other national contexts, and to non-STEM student cohorts. This book will be a valuable resource for researchers and academics engaged in cross-cultural education, the sociology of education, and international and comparative education. It will be of particular interest to those with a focus on international doctoral education and cultural Asian studies. Cover 1 Half Title 4 Series 5 Title 6 Copyright 7 Dedication 8 Contents 10 About the authors 12 Foreword 13 Introduction 16 Part I The empirical and theoretical landscape 22 1 The Chinese students and their philosophical values 24 2 Doing a STEM PhD abroad 35 3 The conceptual framework & the project 62 Part II Congruence/difference and transitions across worlds 88 4 Congruence matters: congruent worlds & smooth transitions 90 5 Reciprocal respect matters: different worlds & smooth transitions 113 6 Agency matters: congruent worlds & border crossings managed 132 7 Putting conflicts under control: different worlds & border crossings managed 156 8 When it’s really difficult: different worlds & border crossings difficult or resisted 188 Part III Enhancing cross-cultural PhD education: for a shared future 214 9 Agentic communication to co-construct success into the future 216 10 From understanding to a shared future 238 Coda 253 Index 255 International,study;,Study,abroad;,International,doctoral,study;,STEM,PhD;,STEM,doctoral,study;,Chinese,international,students;,CIDS;,Multi-worlds;,Phelan;,Dewey;,Supervision;,Phd,supervision;,Supervisor-mentee,relationship;,STEM,Identity;,Chinese,philosophical,values;,Chinese,cultural,values;,Chinese,social,values;,Student,academic,success;,Student,integration;,Student,well-being;,Resilience,in,doctoral,study;,Academic,integration;,Student,loneliness International study,Study abroad,International doctoral study,STEM PhD,STEM doctoral study,Chinese international students,CIDS,Multi-worlds,Phelan,Dewey,Supervision,Phd supervision,Supervisor-mentee relationship,STEM Identity,Chinese philosophical values,Chinese cultural values,Chinese social values,Student academic success,Student integration,Student well-being,Resilience in doctoral study,Academic integration,Student loneliness