Autonomy and Academic Success: MA Syrian Students' Perspective

Authors

  • Shadi Daher

Abstract

This study is an attempt to investigate the academic characteristics required for international students to successfully function in a western academic context . It seeks to shed light , in particular, on the value of autonomy as an essential academic trait and goal for higher education in the west . A group of Syrian MA students studying in British universities were involved in the study.Questionnaires and interviews were the primary research methods used to conduct this research. The results indicate that MA Syrian students involved in the study show almost  full  possession of autonomous characteristics, though this autonomy does not always operate at an intellectual level. The study concludes that there is a need to develop and apply more advanced courses relating to particular intellectual skills for MA Syrian students, in order to help them to adjust to a Western style intellectual culture.

تحاول هذه الدراسة تحديد السمات الأكاديمية المطلوبة للنجاح في بيئة أكاديمية غربية حيث تسعى لإلقاء الضوء على مفهوم استقلالية المتعلم والصفات المرتبطة به كأحد أهم السمات و الأهداف الأكاديمية في برامج الدراسات العليا. يركز البحث على مجموعة من طلبة الماجستير السوريين في  جامعات بريطانية. استخدمت الاستبيانات والمقابلات كطرائق للبحث.  تشير النتائج إلى أن الطلاب السوريين المشمولين في الدراسة يظهرون سمات المتعلم المستقل عامة وإن كان مشوبا باختلال على المستوى النقدي فكريا . تخلص الدراسة للدعوة  إلى تطوير برامج دراسية ما بعد تقليدية تتناول المهارات الفكرية النقدية لمساعدة طلبة الدراسات العليا التأقلم مع الثقافة الفكرية الغربية.

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Published

2014-05-14

How to Cite

Daher, S. (2014). Autonomy and Academic Success: MA Syrian Students’ Perspective. Tishreen University Journal- Arts and Humanities Sciences Series, 36(3). Retrieved from https://journal.tishreen.edu.sy/index.php/humlitr/article/view/1003

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 3 (2014): الآداب والعلوم الإنسانية

Section

Articles

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