Abhigyan

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

A Study of Covid-19 Effects on International Students in Canada


Affiliations
1 Associate Professor & Associate Director, School of Public and Global Affairs, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Vancouver, Canada
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


The study seeks to investigate the experiences and implications of Covid-19 pandemic on international students in Canada by adopting quantitative approach using the Likert scale questionnaire, completed by international students on a random sample basis. Weighted means and Fisher's exact hypothesis testing on association were used to analyze the data. The research probes how international students perceive and experience Covid-19 pandemic from the point of view of their personal, social, and schooling life during the imposed lockdown. The study reveals that the country of origin is a strong predictor of how international students perceive their social experiences. The nationality or cultural context in which they have been brought up are found to be significant in their Covid-19 experience as international students in Vancouver, Canada

Keywords

Covid-19, International Students, Personal Experience, Social Experience, Schooling Experience
User
Subscription Login to verify subscription
Notifications
Font Size

  • Asonye, C. (2020, June 5). There is nothing new about the “new normal”. Here is why. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/theres-nothing-newabout-this-new-normal-heres-why/

  • Bula, F. (2020, April 3). B.C. international students left out of aid fund. The Globe and Mail.

  • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/Canada/British-Columbia/Article-Bc-InternationalStudents-Left-outofAid-Fund/.

  • Canada: some int'l students eligible for support. (2020, April 3). The Pie News. https://thepienews.com /news/some-international-students-eligible-for-support-in-canada/

  • C a n a d a : s o m e i n t ' l s t u d e n t s e l i g i b l e f o r s u p p o r t . ( 2 0 2 0 , A p r i l 3 ) . T h e P i e Ne w s . https://thepienews.com/news/some-international-students-eligible-for-support-in-canada/

  • Canadian Press. (2020, May 12). Some Canadian universities say fall classes will be offered primarily online. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/covid-universitiesonline-1.5565810

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, July 15). Social Distancing Keep a Safe Distance to Slow the Spread. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/preventgetting-sick/social-distancing.html

  • Chamberlin, S. (2020, April 27). Apart. Not Alone. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/apart-alonesarahchamberlin/

  • Chan, A., Nickson, C., Rudolph, J., Lee, A., & Joynt, G. (2020, March 30). Social media for rapid knowledge dissemination: Early experience from the COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved August 11, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7228334/

  • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Measures to reduce COVID-19 in your community. (n.d.). Government of Canada. Retrieved July 21, 2020, from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/ diseases/2019novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks/measures-reduce-community.html

  • Cullen, W. (2020). Mental health in the COVID-19 pandemic. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 113(5), 311–312. https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcaa110

  • Dangerfield, K. (2020, July 9). Coronavirus: How a lack of socialization could impact a generation of kids.

  • Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/7156863/coronavirus-children-isolation-socialization/

  • Diamantopoulos, A., Reynolds, N., & Schlegelmilch, B.B. (1994). Pretesting in questionnaire design: The impact of respondent characteristics on error detection. Journal of the Market Research Society, 36(4), 295-313.

  • Dulock, H. L. (1993). Research Design: Descriptive Research. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 10(4), 154–157. https://doi.org/10.1177/104345429301000406

  • Dumford, A. D., & Miller, A. L. (2018). Online learning in higher education: exploring advantages and disadvantages for engagement. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 30, 452–465. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12528-018-9179-z

  • El-Assal, K. (2020, April 8). International students now eligible for PGWP with online courses. CIC News: Canada Immigration Newsletter. https://www.cicnews.com/2020/04/international-students-now-eligibleforpgwp-with-online-courses-0414082.html#gs.bdza2z

  • El-Assal, K. (2020, February 20). 642,000 international students: Canada now ranks 3rd globally in foreign student attraction. CIC News. https://www.cicnews.com/2020/02/642000-international-students-canadanowranks-3rd-globally-in-foreign-student-attraction-0213763

  • Four ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. (n.d.). MIT Medical. Retrieved August 3, 2020, from https://medical.mit.edu/four-ways-to-protect

  • Gavadia, M. (2020, April 20). How Has COVID-19 Affected Mental Health, Severity of Stress Among Employees? Retrieved August 10, 2020, from https://www.ajmc.com/view/how-has-covid19-affectedmentalhealth-severity-of-stress-among-employees

  • Ghebreyesus, T. A., & Urpilainen, J. (n.d.). Opinion: The COVID-19 pandemic is the defining health crisis of our time. DW Made for Minds. Retrieved August 3, 2020, from https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-thecovid19-pandemic-is-the-defining-health-crisis-ofour-time/a-53452278

  • Gomez, C., Kalata, N., Singh, I., &Loiero, J. (2020, March 24). International students feeling isolated and financially strapped as they wait out pandemic. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/covidinternationalstudents-universities-pandemic1.5505222

  • Government introduces Canada Emergency Response Benefit to help workers and businesses. (2020, March 25). D e p a r t m e n t o f F i n a n c e , C a n a d a . h t t p s : / / w w w . c a n a d a . c a / e n / d e p a r t m e n t finance/news/2020/03/introduces-canadaemergency-response-benefit-to-help-workers-and-businesses.

  • Holliday, I. (2020, April 16). B.C. announces 3 more COVID-19 deaths, 14 new cases. CTV News.

  • https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/b-c-announces-3-more-covid-19-deaths14-new-cases-1.4899158

  • Hughes, S. (2020, June 03). COVID-19 puts international student-driven economic growth in Canada at risk. Retrieved August 10, 2020, from https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/covid-19-puts-internationalstudentdriveneconomic-growth-in-canada-at-risk-190519283.html

  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (2020, May 11). COVID 19: A guide for International student i n C a n a d a a r r i v i n g f r o m a b r o a d . h t t p s : / / w w w. c a n a d a . c a / e n / i m m i g r a t i o n - r e f u g e e s citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/guide-international-students-arriving-abroad.html#rolesresponsibilities

  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. (n.d.). Building on success: International Education Strategy (2019-2024). Retrieved October 19, 2020 from https://www.international.gc.ca/ education/strategy2019-2024-strategie.aspx?lang=eng

  • International Students in Canada. (2018, August). Canadian Bureau on International Education.

  • https://cbie.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/International-Students-in-Canada-ENG.pdf

  • Iwai, Y. (2020, March 13). Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Scientific American.

  • https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/online-learning-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

  • Kahn, P., Everington, L., Kelm, K., Reid, I., & WAtkins, F. (2017). Understanding student engagement in online learning environments: The role of reflexivity. Educational Technology Research and Development, 65, 203–218. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11423-016-9484-z

  • Katem, E. (2017, October 11). Canada Eases Pathway to Citizenship for International Students. Canada Study News. https://www.canadastudynews.com/2017/10/11/canada-eases-pathway-to-citizenship-forinternationalstudents/

  • MacLeod, M. (2020, June 15). Is the great shift to working from home here to stay? CTV News.

  • https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/is-the-great-shift-to-working-fromhome-here-to-stay1.4981456

  • Mangione, K. (2020, June 17). These groups were the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, B.C.'s finance minister says. CTV News. https://bc.ctvnews.ca/these-groups-were-the-hardest-hit-by-the-coronaviruspandemicb-c-s-finance-minister-says-1.4988852

  • Maragakis, L. L. (n.d.). Coronavirus, Social and Physical Distancing and Self Quarantine. John Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved August 2, 2020, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-anddiseases/ coronavirus/coronavirus-social-distancing-and-self-quarantine

  • McQuigge, M. (2020, March 11). Universities prepare for possibility of moving online as coronavirus pandemic spreads. The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-universities-prepare-forpossibilityofmoving-online-as-coronavirus/

  • Means, B., and Neisler, J., with Langer Research Associates. (2020). Suddenly Online: A National Survey of Undergraduates During the COVID-19 Pandemic. San Mateo, CA: Digital Promise

  • Mental health in the COVID-19 pandemic. (2020). QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 311–312.

  • https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcaa110

  • Mineo, L. (2020, March 5). How to reduce the spread of coronavirus Much of it follows traditional cold-season admonitions, but some is more specific. The Harvard Gazette. https://news.harvard.edu/ gazette/story/2020/03/preventing-the-spread-of-coronavirusstarts-with-basic-hygiene/

  • Older Adults. (2020, July 30). Center for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/olderadults.

  • Online shopping has doubled during the pandemic, Statistics Canada says Social Sharing. (2020, July 24). CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/onlineshopping-covid-19-1.5661818

  • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Measures to reduce COVID-19 in your community. (n.d.). Government of Canada. Retrieved July 21, 2020, from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases /2019novel-coronavirusinfection/prevention-risks/measures-reduce-community.html

  • Reduce the spread of COVID-19: Wash your hands infographic. (n.d.). Government of Canada. Retrieved August 3, 2020, from https://www.canada.ca/en/publichealth/services/publications/diseases-conditions/reducespreadcovid-19-wash-yourhands.html

  • Removing barriers for international students working in essential services to fight COVID-19. (2020, April 22). Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugeescitizenship/ news/2020/04/removingbarriers-for-international-students-working-in-essential-services-tofight-covid-19.html

  • Shaw, R. (2020, March 25). COVID-19: Job losses mount in B.C. as coronavirus pandemic wreaks economic havoc. Vancouver Sun. https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/covid-19-job-losses-mount-in-b-c-ascoronavirus-pandemic-wreaks-economic-havoc"

  • Shields, R. (2020, June). Mental Health in Canada: Covid 19 and beyond. CAMH Policy Advice.

  • http://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/pdfs---public-policy-submissions/covid-and-mh-policy-paper-pdf.pdf

  • St. Denis, J. (2020, April 26). Protesters march against COVID-19 prevention measures in Vancouver. CTV News. https://bc.ctvnews.ca/protesters-march-against-covid-19prevention-measures-in-vancouver-1.4912767

  • Steacy, L. (2020, March 15). COVID-19-related changes, cancellations at Lower Mainland post-secondary schools. City News 1130. https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/03/15/covid-19-changes-post-secondary/

  • Study Permits: Assessing study permit conditions. (2019, June 24). Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

  • Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publicationsmanuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/study-permits/assessing-conditions.html

  • Study permits: Other considerations. (2019, January 16). Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

  • https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operationalbulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/study-permits/other-considerations.html

  • Teboe, C. (2020, April 14). How to improve your social life while COVID-19 social distancing. News Center

  • Maine. https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/as-seen-on-tv/video-call-etiquetteduringcoronavirus-pandemic-social-distancing/97-8d861b37-749a-477e-bd11c0bb893f2dae

  • The Canadian Press. (2020, May 12). Some Canadian universities say fall classes will be offered primarily online.Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/covid-universities-online-

  • 5565810

  • Vega, D. J. (2020, March 26). I am not invincible: My COVID-19 story. Indiana University School of

  • Medicine Student Life. https://medicine.iu.edu/blogs/student-life/i-am-not-invincible-my-covid-19-story

  • Wu, H., Garza, E., & Guzman, N. (2015). International Student's Challenge and Adjustment to College.

  • Education Research International, 2015, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/202753

  • Yang, C., Yang, D., Tsai, J., Communication, S., Pan, S. (2020). Discrimination and well-being among

  • Asians/Asian Americans during COVID-19: The role of social media. Cyberpsychology, Behaviour, and

  • Social Networking, 23(12). https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/cyber.2020.0394

  • Yorkvilleu University. (2020, July 25). COVID-19 Safety. www.yorkvilleu-bc.janeapp.com: https://yorkvilleubc.

  • janeapp.com

  • Zhao, T. (2020, March 27). International perspective: A Chinese student in Canada during the coronavirus

  • outbreak. The student. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/cn/student/blogs/inter nationalperspective-

  • chinese-student-canada-during-coronavirus-outbreak

  • Zussman, R. (2020b, May 12). Coronavirus: UBC to offer online instruction for larger classes in fall term. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/6933968/ubc-onlineclasses-fa ll-2020-term/


Abstract Views: 173

PDF Views: 0




  • A Study of Covid-19 Effects on International Students in Canada

Abstract Views: 173  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Ajay K. Garg
Associate Professor & Associate Director, School of Public and Global Affairs, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Vancouver, Canada

Abstract


The study seeks to investigate the experiences and implications of Covid-19 pandemic on international students in Canada by adopting quantitative approach using the Likert scale questionnaire, completed by international students on a random sample basis. Weighted means and Fisher's exact hypothesis testing on association were used to analyze the data. The research probes how international students perceive and experience Covid-19 pandemic from the point of view of their personal, social, and schooling life during the imposed lockdown. The study reveals that the country of origin is a strong predictor of how international students perceive their social experiences. The nationality or cultural context in which they have been brought up are found to be significant in their Covid-19 experience as international students in Vancouver, Canada

Keywords


Covid-19, International Students, Personal Experience, Social Experience, Schooling Experience

References