AN INVESTIGATION INTO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES STUDYING EAP IN A JOINT VENTURE UNIVERSITY IN CHINA

Globalisation is an inescapable aspect of the modern world. The number of large transnational corporations with a global presence has increased dramatically over the last two decades, particularly in developing nations (Roach, 2007). Such organisations spread their operations across regions in order to increase market share and profitability. Education is not excluded from this phenomenon. Traditionally internationalisation of Higher Education (HE) has involved student mobility. Students would travel from what Kachru (1985) refers to as Expanding Circle countries (such as China) to Inner Circle countries (such as the UK) in order to study in English. This remains an important trend; currently Chinese students constitute almost as many of the postgraduate students in the UK as native students, despite increased visa restrictions (The Guardian, 2014). Nevertheless this is not now the only option open to students who want a Western-style university education, or certification from an internationally-recognised institution. It is now possible to receive an education in English in various countries worldwide. China is one of those locations. Institutions from across the educational spectrum are extending their reach into China; primary and secondary schooleducation is available at branches of institutions such as Dulwich College (see Ball, 2012), while HE courses which follow a UK curriculum are available through various partnerships between UK and Chinese institutions. While these HE courses are mostly populated by Chinese students, the institutions are also keen to attract students from around the world as a way of demonstrating their internationalisation credentials (see http://www.xjtlu.edu.cn and http://www.nottingham.edu.cn). There is clear potential for growth in this area as numbers of international students worldwide have increased by 50% since 2000 and are expected to reach 7-8 million students by 2025 (Ball, 2012; Jackson, 2012). The growth of these universities has created a new and unique environment for international students. At Xi'An Jiao Tong Liverpool University (XJTLU), a Joint Venture (JV) institution in Eastern China, international students (i.e. students who are not Chinese, nor exchange students from the UK) form a small but rapidly growing cohort of students. These students all study English for Academic Purposes (EAP) in addition to their main degree course. The aim of this study is to explore to what extent the EAP needs of international students at a JV university in China are being met. An interpretative approach is adopted by using qualitative methods to investigate the various accounts of differing experiences at XJTLU, recording the opinions of EAP teachers and international students involved in the study. These experiences are analysed and suggestions are made as to how JV universities can improve EAP provision, with an emphasis on creating opportunities for intercultural interaction through increased involvement in classroom activities such as groupwork