The PLS-SEM path analysis of foreign students’ motivation and expectations at a Hungarian university

The current research paper focuses on the PLS-SEM path analysis of foreign student motivation and expectations at a Hungarian university, the University of Szeged. Conducted in this setting, the results of the study introduce a new perspective by looking at international students from a Hungarian viewpoint. Based on initial pilot studies, the aim of this study is to test the hypothetical model of motivation and expectations of foreign students in Hungary, which includes hypotheses that motivations and expectations are closely related. PLS-SEM analysis is used to determine these connections and to test the hypotheses. Quantitative data is obtained in the form of an online questionnaire and is processed with IMB SPSS and SmartPLS 3 software. It was found that five motivation types influence expectations, which are reference groups, self-realization, getting to know the culture, integration into the Hungarian community and gaining knowledge. These motivation factors influence five expectation factors, which include social, personal, cultural, labour market and educational expectations. Based on these findings, a final model for motivation and expectations among foreign students is drawn