LIPA CITY COLLEGES ACADEMIC EXCHANGE STUDENTS&#039; ADAPTATION IN THE SOCIAL, ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL DYNAMICS : BASIS FOR AVERTING CULTURE AND FUTURE SHOCKS

Allan  D. Tipan,; RHEALYN  MARQUEZ,

LIPA CITY COLLEGES ACADEMIC EXCHANGE STUDENTS' ADAPTATION IN THE SOCIAL, ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL DYNAMICS : BASIS FOR AVERTING CULTURE AND FUTURE SHOCKS

Abstract:

This study focused on the challenges of Lipa City Colleges Academic Exchange Students' in the Social, Academic, and Cultural Dynamics and their adaptive strategies applied to cope with these challenges. The researchers used the Mixed method and Total enumeration sampling as the methods of the study. Data were collected using a survey questionnaire that comprises the demographic profile of the international exchange students, common academic, social and cultural challenges encountered by the international exchange students, and the adaptive strategies utilized the international exchange student respondents to cope with the aforesaid challenges. The study revealed that the respondents rarely encountered academic, social, and cultural challenges. In academics, the most challenging part was reading and listening to foreign texts and conversations. For the social, they found inadequate time interacting with foreign students. They also feel embarrassed when meeting new people for the first time. In continuation, the cultural difficulty of the respondents was on having conversations with students of a different race/country’ and on “adjusting to new social/cultural customs, norms, and regulations. In addition, this study attested that there is a need to enhance further the current international exchange program for the student’s better adaptability and lesser shocks concerning the academic, social and cultural dynamics that was stated herein can be given adequate consideration and may be included in the reprogramming of the institution's international exchange program. Furthermore, the study aims to enhance knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods and issues related to education, school marketing, and internationalization programs. It is also relevant to individuals to gain more knowledge, ideas, and skills under the institution's supervision.