Principal Lecturer

Waikato Institute of Technology

deniss.yeung@wintec.ac.nz

e-Learning preference of international students: the Shandong University of Technology (SDUT) study

Paper

In 2002 more than 80,000 foreign students studied in New Zealand, earning the country $1.7 billion and making education the fourth-largest export earner. However the educational sector is now experiencing a decline in international student numbers. In order to keep our international student numbers up it is essential to carry out studies on understanding their needs and wants better.    Some researchers (Aldred & Reid, 2003; Bates, 2000; Dalziel, 2003; Mann, 2000) believe that “Internet" learning offers the combination of face-to-face teaching with online resources, provides a richer learning context and enables differences in learning styles and preferences will be a better option. The researcher tried to understand potential students from overseas their e-learning experience and preference if they were to study at Wintec. The School of Business and Administration at Wintec has a relationship with Shandong University of Technology (SDUT), China,  School of Economics and a printed questionnaire with 11 questions was used to survey students’ demographic, studies, computing and internet usages background, and e-Learning preferences. With the assistance from staff at SDUT 500 replied were obtained. Research findings could be used for future curriculum planning and development and will be shared with participants.

Deniss, TC Yeung - Principal Lecturer, JP, Chartered Marketer, B.Sc.(Hons), MBA, DipMarketing, PCEd., MCIM, CTT.  A Chartered Marketer (U.K.) with strong research interests in not for profit organizations and International student issues. Past research projects include: Training Needs of Not-for-Profit Organisations (2001), Internet Applications in Not-for Profit Organisations (2002),  International Students’ Media/Communication on Choosing Overseas Education Institutes (2003), e-Learning and International Students: Time for Integration; Internal Report (2004), The Flip Side of the Coin: An Organizational Scan of Domestic Student Attitudes towards their International Counterparts (2005).