A Qualitative Exploration on the Challenges of Transfer Students in an Asian Educational Context

Ching, Shirley Siu Yin; Tam, Kin Yuen; Zhang, Lillian Weiwei; Ng, Jeremy; Cheung, Kin

Abstract

Limited research has been conducted on community college (CC) transfer students’ (TS) experiences in four-year universities, particularly in Asian contexts. To fill this research gap, in this qualitative study, 124 TS from various disciplines in a Hong Kong university participated in 39 focus groups and seven individual interviews. Unlike their Western counterparts, our TS were relatively better prepared and more academically adaptive. Nevertheless, their social integration was restricted by a lack of time for extra-curricular activities, a sense of inferiority and incompetence, and restricted social circles that did not enable interaction with non-TS. These challenges and their implications are discussed. In particular, this study has highlighted differences between the special education systems for CC transfer in Hong Kong and those in Western CC models. The study has also highlighted the study-induced stress, and poor self-perceptions that TS experience, despite their academic abilities.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 16, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 21, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021
• Deposit Date: Jul 24, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 24, 2023
• Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: 3238
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063238
• Keywords: transfer students; academic adjustment; social integration; self-identity; psychological well-being; higher education in Asia