Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

College

College of Education and International Services

Program

Leadership PhD

First Advisor

Sharon Aka

Second Advisor

Jay Brand

Third Advisor

Nate Brandstater

Abstract

Problem

The war in Ukraine has disrupted the country’s higher education system, displacing Ukrainian students and affecting their mental well-being. These students encounter numerous challenges while adapting to new academic and cultural environments abroad. Higher education professionals must recognize and address the unique experiences and needs of international students by region of origin to better serve these populations. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence the social and academic integration of Ukrainian international students into a new culture and to inform institutions of the best practices for creating supportive environments for international students.

Method

The qualitative study explored the experiences of displaced Ukrainian students at a Midwestern healthcare college, utilizing a phenomenological research design. The researcher explored the social, linguistic, academic, and psychological experiences and perceptions that affected international student integration into a new educational and cultural environment. Eight individual in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were analyzed through coding and thematic analysis to identify recurring themes and patterns that reflect the factors, challenges, supports, and initiatives involved in the students' integration experiences.

Results

The integration journey of each student is shaped by a constellation of factors, including language proficiency, personal preferences, worldviews, and support from educational institutions, local communities, and families and friends, among others. The effects of war, particularly regarding students' emotional connections to events in their home country, as well as various fears, also play a significant role.

Conclusions

To succeed in their academic pursuits despite various challenges, Ukrainian international students needed to strengthen their academic resilience. As they adjusted to their new environment, they had to make psychological and behavioral changes to align with the norms of the local culture while still preserving their own identity. Several common forms of support enhanced their ability to progress. These included assistance from the college in improving their language and communication skills. The friendly faculty and staff helped create a welcoming and supportive atmosphere in both classes and extracurricular activities, which greatly aided in their integration. Additionally, social support from church members, colleagues, and networks of friends positively influenced their integration through various interactions. Although this study intentionally excluded the financial aspects of students' lives, the substantial financial support from the college is likely to have alleviated nearly all of their monetary concerns. This allowed the students to focus entirely on their studies. All of these factors, some subtle and others more obvious, contribute to how individuals adapt, each in different ways and to varying degrees.

Subject Area

Ukrainian students--United States; Ukrainian students--Foreign countries; Resilience (Personality trait); Students and war

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