IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i6p3238-d521232.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Qualitative Exploration on the Challenges of Transfer Students in an Asian Educational Context

Author

Listed:
  • Shirley Siu Yin Ching

    (School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Kin Yuen Tam

    (Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Lillian Weiwei Zhang

    (School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Jeremy Ng

    (School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

  • Kin Cheung

    (School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China)

Abstract

Limited research has been conducted on community college (CC) transfer students’ (TS) experiences in four-year universities, particularly in Asian contexts. To fill this research gap, in this qualitative study, 124 TS from various disciplines in a Hong Kong university participated in 39 focus groups and seven individual interviews. Unlike their Western counterparts, our TS were relatively better prepared and more academically adaptive. Nevertheless, their social integration was restricted by a lack of time for extra-curricular activities, a sense of inferiority and incompetence, and restricted social circles that did not enable interaction with non-TS. These challenges and their implications are discussed. In particular, this study has highlighted differences between the special education systems for CC transfer in Hong Kong and those in Western CC models. The study has also highlighted the study-induced stress, and poor self-perceptions that TS experience, despite their academic abilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Shirley Siu Yin Ching & Kin Yuen Tam & Lillian Weiwei Zhang & Jeremy Ng & Kin Cheung, 2021. "A Qualitative Exploration on the Challenges of Transfer Students in an Asian Educational Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3238-:d:521232
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3238/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3238/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lovenoor Aulck & Jevin West, 2017. "Attrition and performance of community college transfers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(4), pages 1-23, April.
    2. Kin Cheung & Jeremy Ng & Hilda Tsang & Kelvin K. L. Pang & C. L. Johnny Wan & Kristin Moser, 2020. "Factors Affecting Direct and Transfer Entrants’ Active Coping and Satisfaction with the University," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-16, April.
    3. Kin Cheung & Tsz Leung Yip & C L Johnny Wan & Hilda Tsang & Lillian Weiwei Zhang & Anna Parpala, 2020. "Differences in study workload stress and its associated factors between transfer students and freshmen entrants in an Asian higher education context," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(5), pages 1-23, May.
    4. Di Xu & Shanna Smith Jaggars & Jeffrey Fletcher & John E. Fink, 2018. "Are Community College Transfer Students “a Good Bet” for 4-Year Admissions? Comparing Academic and Labor-Market Outcomes Between Transfer and Native 4-Year College Students," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 89(4), pages 478-502, July.
    5. Barbara F. Tobolowsky & Bradley E. Cox, 2012. "Rationalizing Neglect: An Institutional Response to Transfer Students," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 83(3), pages 389-410, May.
    6. Shirley Siu Yin Ching & Dennis Foung & Lillian Weiwei Zhang & Gwendoline Yuanyuan Guan & Kin Cheung, 2020. "Perceptions of the English Use of College Transfer Nursing Students in a Non-English Speaking City: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-12, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dennis Foung & Shirley Siu Yin Ching & Lillian Weiwei Zhang & Gwendoline Yuanyuan Guan & Kin Cheung, 2022. "English Development Sustainability for English as Second Language College Transfer Students: A Case Study from a University in Hong Kong," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Kin Cheung & Jeremy Ng & Hilda Tsang & Kelvin K. L. Pang & C. L. Johnny Wan & Kristin Moser, 2020. "Factors Affecting Direct and Transfer Entrants’ Active Coping and Satisfaction with the University," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-16, April.
    3. Dennis Foung & Kin Cheung, 2021. "Transfer Capital or Transfer Deficit: A Dual Perspective of English Learning of ESL College Transfer Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Taylor Delaney, 2024. "2-Year or Not 2-Year? The Impact of Starting at Community College on Bachelor’s Degree Attainment," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 65(8), pages 1717-1746, December.
    5. Di Xu & Sabrina Solanki & Ashley Harlow, 2020. "Examining the Relationship Between 2-year College Entry and Baccalaureate Aspirants’ Academic and Labor Market Outcomes: Impacts, Heterogeneity, and Mechanisms," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 61(3), pages 297-329, May.
    6. Maurice Shirley & Amanda Olsen & Sehee Kim & Michelle Dimino & Mehmet Kaplan, 2023. "Heading in the Right Direction? Examining the Relationship of Transfer Patterns and Income Status on College Student Outcomes," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 64(6), pages 808-833, September.
    7. Gloria Crisp & Charlie Potter & Amanda Taggart, 2022. "Characteristics and Predictors of Transfer and Withdrawal Among Students Who Begin College at Bachelor’s Granting Institutions," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 63(3), pages 481-513, May.
    8. Yuxin Lin & Maggie P. Fay & John Fink, 2023. "Stratified Trajectories: Charting Equity Gaps in Program Pathways Among Community College Students," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 64(4), pages 547-573, June.
    9. Kin Cheung & Tsz Leung Yip & C L Johnny Wan & Hilda Tsang & Lillian Weiwei Zhang & Anna Parpala, 2020. "Differences in study workload stress and its associated factors between transfer students and freshmen entrants in an Asian higher education context," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(5), pages 1-23, May.
    10. Rachel Worsham & Andrea L. DeSantis & Melissa Whatley & Katie R. Johnson & Audrey J. Jaeger, 2021. "Early Effects of North Carolina’s Comprehensive Articulation Agreement on Credit Accumulation Among Community College Transfer Students," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 62(7), pages 942-975, November.
    11. Catherine Hartman & Rebecca Callahan & Hongwei Yu, 2021. "Optimizing Intent to Transfer: Engagement and Community College English Learners," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 62(6), pages 789-828, September.
    12. Hongwei Yu & Lyle McKinney & Andrea Burridge & Susana H. Hernández, 2024. "How First-Year Academic Momentum Influences Transfer Outcomes Among Different Racial and Ethnic Groups," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 65(7), pages 1461-1490, November.
    13. Kin Cheung & Bin Li & Peter Benz & Ka Ming Chow & Jeremy Tzi Dong Ng & Wilson Yeung Yuk Kwok & Hilda Tsang & Dicky Nok Hang Leung & Janus Ka Yee Lui & Yee Na Li & Eunice So & Alice Leung, 2021. "Prototype Development of a Cross-Institutional Credit Transfer Information System for Community College Transfer Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
    14. Tanya Sanabria & Andrew Penner & Thurston Domina, 2020. "Failing at Remediation? College Remedial Coursetaking, Failure and Long-Term Student Outcomes," Research in Higher Education, Springer;Association for Institutional Research, vol. 61(4), pages 459-484, June.
    15. Anna Parpala & Nina Katajavuori & Anne Haarala-Muhonen & Henna Asikainen, 2021. "How Did Students with Different Learning Profiles Experience ‘Normal’ and Online Teaching Situation during COVID-19 Spring?," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-12, September.
    16. Kin Cheung & Ceci Sze Wing Ho & Hilda Tsang & Elaine Lau, 2022. "Comparing the Learning Approaches of Transfer Students and Direct Entrants in an Asian Higher Education Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-20, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3238-:d:521232. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.