Transient migrants’ information-seeking journey: the case of Saudi Arabian female international students

© 2018 Dr. Haifa Mohammad Saeed BinsahlThe number of transient migrants around the world is increasing, and with it a corresponding growth in research publications. This is particularly the case for a specific group of transient migrants, international students, who face a particular challenge namely, ineffective information seeking. This research focuses on the information-seeking behaviour (ISB) journey of Saudi Arabian Female International Students (SFIS) as they transition between Saudi Arabia and Australia. SFIS represent a culturally and digitally unique population of transient migrants. SFIS represent a culturally and digitally unique population of transient migrants. Coming from Saudi Arabia, a nation with distinct cultural norms, SFIS face many academic and everyday cultural and digital journey adjustments, as well as the challenges of reading, writing, and conducting research in a foreign language. Despite research on international students’ information needs and ISB, there is little research on SFIS’ ISB experiences, hence the rationale for this study. The data collection comprised two qualitative studies: Study 1 explored the challenges and changes SFIS faced in the first stage of their ISB journey (from Saudi Arabia to Australia). Study 2 explored the ISB challenges and changes SFIS faced on their return to Saudi Arabia some years later. The findings of this research shed more light on the impact of both transitions on SFIS' ISB. Recent arrivals’ language and ISB difficulties are exacerbated by their unfamiliarity with many online technologies commonly used in the western society, ignorance of Western learning and research methods, inexperience of mixing freely with males, and an almost total dependence on their male relatives. Over time, these initial challenges turn into opportunities including enhanced online ISB and research skills, increased confidence interacting with males, and more independence. This maturity, however, creates its own readjustment ISB challenges on their return back to their home country. Returnees found that Saudi Arabia lags behind other societies in professional online communication technologies, and there are few up-to-date reliable sources in Arabic. Little effort has been made to explore the theoretical underpinnings of transient migrants' ISB, as existing ISB models do not address these journeys. Through the case study work of SFIS, this longitudinal research has three main contributions: * providing new evidence demonstrating how the transition between different cultural and digital environments challenges and changes the ISB of transient migrants living and studying in an open society such as Australia, * presenting a better understanding of the post-study ISB experiences of returned transient migrants when they return to their home country’s cultural and digital environment, and * proposing an explanatory ISB model that extends Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (DTPB) taking account the key factors that affect the ISB of transient migrants when moving back and forth between their home and their host countries’ cultural and digital environments

Saudi Female Students' Motivations to Study in Australia: A qualitative study

Many transient Saudi Arabian students arrive in Australia annually; more than 5000 new Saudi students enrolled in 2017 to join thousands of tertiary students already in Australia. This article specifically explores the motives of Saudi female international students (SFIS) for leaving Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to study in Australia. Data were analysed and evaluated in terms of the ‘push–pull explanation’ of motivation. Salient push elements included the lack of university places and courses for women in KSA, the influence of close relatives (especially male) and Saudi governmental policies. Pull elements included the safety and tolerance of Australia being perceived to be greater than any other western country, Australia’s excellent education system and the relative convenience and ease of Australia’s admission process. The study is significant as it is the first that aims to understand Saudi females’ motivations for studying overseas, especially in Australia

Exploring the Factors that Impact on Saudi Female International Students’ Use of Social Technologies as an Information Source

This research in progress explores the use of Social Technologies (ST) by Saudi female international students (SFIS) in Australia. More specifically, this study aims to investigate how SFIS use these sites for their information seeking activities. While research into the use of social technologies in higher education is gaining more momentum, there remains a dearth of research that aims to understand the potential of using social technologies for everyday life information activities. By facilitating communication between users, ST enables the rapid and easy exchange and dissemination of information. Derived from literature on ISB and ST use, this research in progress paper proposes a conceptual model that predicts factors that impact on SFIS’ use of ST in general and as a source of information over time and across cultures. Understanding these factors would aid university service providers and system designers in developing effective social media applications that meet the increasing challenges of a diversified society

Cross-Cultural Digital Information-Seeking Experiences:The Case of Saudi Arabian Female International Students

The number of Saudi female international students (SFISs) pursuing higher degrees in Western countries has increased dramatically. Many are faced with unusual challenges, especially acting without a male’s permission, interacting with males, and using an open, free Internet. This article proposes that SFISs experience a “digital shift” whereby their cultural, educational, and digital backgrounds impact their information-seeking behavior in Australia. The study used a qualitative interpretivist methodology, interviewing a diverse group of SFISs studying in Australia, to better understand this impact on their everyday information needs and use of information sources. Findings indicate that SFISs’ imperfect online search skills, exacerbated by English language deficiency, increase their challenges. Recommendations for supporting SFISs are offered for institutions and service providers

Saudi Female Students' Motivations to Study in Australia:A qualitative study

Many transient Saudi Arabian students arrive in Australia annually; more than 5000 new Saudi students enrolled in 2017 to join thousands of tertiary students already in Australia. This article specifically explores the motives of Saudi female international students (SFIS) for leaving Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to study in Australia. Data were analysed and evaluated in terms of the ‘push–pull explanation’ of motivation. Salient push elements included the lack of university places and courses for women in KSA, the influence of close relatives (especially male) and Saudi governmental policies. Pull elements included the safety and tolerance of Australia being perceived to be greater than any other western country, Australia’s excellent education system and the relative convenience and ease of Australia’s admission process. The study is significant as it is the first that aims to understand Saudi females’ motivations for studying overseas, especially in Australia