Aren't We All International Students?: Supporting Diverse Populations at University Branch-Campuses

Abstract

International university branch-campuses (IBCs) host a diverse body of students whose identities cannot be captured through the binary definitions of international or local. Of significant interest are regions where IBCs cater mainly to minority, expatriate and mobile students. For Western universities, many of which have long-standing traditions and approaches to student support, understanding the nuances of these groups is essential to facilitate their success. This chapter describes and contextualizes the changing population of students that Western universities are servicing at IBCs. Using the case studies of Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates, IBCs in these regions are shown to host a variety of students, most of which face significant degrees of social marginalization within the broader society. These new contexts, and their current programs, are contrasted with the traditional literature on international student supports to establish a new model with which to conceptualize and nurture diverse students in global contexts.