Experiences and support services provided to international graduate students at Makerere University

Abstract

The enrollment of international graduate students is declining at Makerere University. Yet, Makerere aspires to be a research-led institution with an internationalization agenda. There is need to increase the numbers of international graduate students as this would help Makerere University to realize her vision. This study therefore explored international graduate students‟ experiences and how they are supported at Makerere University. It was guided by two objectives: (1) To explore experiences of international graduate students at Makerere university. (2) To explore how international graduate students are supported at Makerere University. This study was based on the interpretive world view, subscribing to the transcendental phenomenology of Edmund Husserls which states that those who have experienced a phenomenon can give meaning to it. Eight international graduate students at Makerere University were interviewed and they were selected from different academic disciplines which were categorised according to Becher and Biglan‟s classification of academic disciplines. Data analysis followed thematic analysis whereby three themes including non-academic experiences, academic experience and support emerged as experiences and support that was provided to international graduate students at Makerere University. The findings show that international graduate students encountered both positive and negative non-academic and academic experiences at Makerere University. Positive academic experiences entailed attainment of confidence in academic situations, opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and networking, access to diverse academic resources among others. Negative academic experiences on the other hand entailed financial difficulties, inadequate laboratory facilities, and delayed feedback from supervisors on research projects. Non-academic positive experiences entailed cultural exchange, opportunities for personal and professional growth. Negative non-academic experiences encompassed institutional barriers and challenges in finding suitable accommodation. Regarding support, international graduate students received non-academic and academic support at Makerere University. It was therefore concluded that international graduate students had non-academic and academic experiences which were both positive and negative at

Makerere University. It was also concluded that international graduate students received non- academic and academic support at Makerere University. This study recommends that Makerere

University Management should provide more resources to the International 0ffice, and the Office of the Dean of Students should organise events for graduate students to facilitate their integration into the university. The Academic Registrar‟s Office should provide comprehensive information on the joining instructions. Finally, the Directorate of Research and Graduate Training should assist self -sponsored international graduate students in securing external funding opportunities for their research projects.