Motivation of foreign degree students to choose ABC University for their undergraduate studies
Thapa, Suman; Phung, Mai Anh (2013)
Thapa, Suman
Phung, Mai Anh
Arcada - Nylands svenska yrkeshögskola
2013
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2013060312460
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2013060312460
Tiivistelmä
Every year, the number of foreign degree students is increasing in Finnish universities. These foreign students come from a wide range of nations all over the world. Being one of the best universities of applied sciences in Helsinki, Finland, each year ABC University receives applications of students from Vietnam, China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Russia, various African countries and so on. The aim of this qualitative research is to investigate why foreign degree students choose ABC University as the place for their undergraduate studies and from where they acquired primary information about this university. The theoretical framework of this research examined different theories of motivation. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Alderfer’s ERG theory, Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory and the expectancy theory of motivation were reviewed alternately. Moreover, the theoretical framework also includes the marketization and internationalization of higher education and college choice behavior. Focus group interview was chosen to conduct empirical research. The interview results were analyzed thoroughly one by one to find out the answers for the research questions. These results revealed that foreign degree students chose ABC University mainly because of the university’s characteristics and recommendations from friends and relatives. Information about ABC University was acquired from internet and friends of the students.