Ready, Willing, and Able? Exploring the Relationships and Experiences of International Students at a Federal University in the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a young and diverse country that has experienced increased international student enrolment in recent years. This empirical, descriptive study examined the experiences of international students at a federal higher education institution in the UAE through the lens of the intergroup contact theory. Research questions focused on interactions with national students, adjustment to college, and institutional support. Surveys of 126 students found that national and international students desired more connections and overall had positive perceptions of each other. Some of the main international student barriers to adjustment and engagement related to language or cultural differences, and they felt generally supported on campus by faculty and staff but desired more intentional structured outside-of-the-classroom programs. This chapter offers a unique contribution by exploring the experiences, assumptions, and constructions of international students who study in a federal institution in a highly diverse country context