Understanding the Study Experience of Chinese Tourism Doctoral Students Studying Overseas

ABSTRACT

Understanding the study experience of international tourism doctoral students is an important task for the researchers and practitioners in tourism education field. Drawing on qualitative data from Chinese overseas tourism doctoral students, this paper examines their perceptions of difficulties that experienced during their doctoral studies. A constructivist grounded theory approach is adopted. The findings identify three themes: academic, financial and psychological pressure. The study further explores how to support individuals’ doctoral studies from different perspectives, including supervisors, education institutions and society. The findings provide useful insights for governments and educational institutions to better design, promote, and support the doctoral programmes for international tourism students.

摘要

了解国际旅游博士生的学习体验是旅游教育领域研究人员和从业人员的重要任务。 本文根据来自中国海外旅游博士生的质性数据, 研究了他们在博士学习过程中遇到的困难。 本文采用扎根理论方法揭示了三种博士学习中的困难:学术, 财务和心理压力。 因此, 本研究进一步探讨了如何从不同角度支持他们的博士学习, 包括导师, 教育机构和社会。 研究结果为政府和教育机构更好地设计, 推广和支持国际旅游学生的博士项目提供建议。

KEYWORDS:

• International students
• tourism doctoral students
• grounded theory
• study experience
• difficulties
• support

关键词:

• 国际学生
• 旅游博士生
• 扎根理论
• 学习体验
• 困难
• 支持

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hongxia Qi

Hongxia Qi is Research Officer in New Zealand Tourism Research Institute at Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. Her research interests include event management, volunteer tourism, tourism education and special interest tourism (E-mail: [email protected]).

Fangxuan (Sam) Li

Fangxuan (Sam) Li is Research Officer in New Zealand Tourism Research Institute at Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. His research interests include Chinese outbound tourism, tourist behavior, border tourism and tourism education (E-mail: [email protected]).