Experiences of African international students during Covid-19 : a study at a university in the Gauteng Province, South Africa

Abstract

This dissertation contributes to discussions on how international students can be better supported by universities in South Africa. It focuses on the experiences and challenges of African international students at a university in the Gauteng Province of South Africa during the Covid-19 lockdown. African international students were the focus of the study due to their particular vulnerability and them being a majority of the international students in the country. International students always face adversity in their host countries and in times of crisis these adversities are worsened. Effective student support provided by institutions of higher learning has assisted in alleviating the pressures of these challenges, however, there was little existing literature regarding whether the support structures that worked before the pandemic also worked during the pandemic. In addition, many of the support structures that were in place before the pandemic were either not as effective as hoped or did not accommodate African international students at all. The objective of this study was to increase the knowledge of the challenges and experiences African international students face during times of crisis. It is hoped that this will be of benefit to decision making in universities to improve international student support and maximise their contribution to the university and wider development goals. The findings of this study, based on information gathered from the 37 participants, indicate that the university in question was not adequately prepared for a pandemic. Discoveries and recommendations are made in seven main areas: international student representation; challenges of getting visas; international student support services; counselling services; furthering of technological advancement and its use in education; assimilation of international students in a new environment; and issues of financial assistance for African international students.