| dc.description.abstract | Norwegian Universities are welcoming an increasing number of international students in recent years (SIU, 2016, P.11, Norway Today, April 30, 2021). However, they face integration issues, particularly in respect of social life and job market due to mainly language barrier as the existing research reveals (SIU, 2016, PP.31-32, SIU, 2014, P.36). As an international Bangladeshi student, I undertook this research project to explore further their integration issues and strengthen their appeal to Norwegian universities for solving their problems. This paper examines the current state of academic, social, and professional integration of USN Bangladeshi international students in Norway from their perspectives and USN’s present and normative role in this integration process from its policy perspective in light of Banks’ theory of multicultural education. Using thematic data analysis procedure, data from semi-structured interviews and other relevant sources were coded into three research themes- academic, social, and professional integration- relevant to addressing the research problem for the analysis. Upon analysis based on Banks’ theory, the result shows that although Bangladeshi international students at USN have access to equality on some indicators of academic integration, they do not experience equality on others of the same, and more importantly, in respect of social and professional integration. As far as its policies are concerned, USN is found to have contributed accordingly, that is, to the extent Bangladeshi international students at USN experience equality in academic, social and employment integration in Norway. In supporting Banks’ position which addresses the research problem, an interpretation of the thesis outcome in consideration of theoretical positions by Modood and Osler views the research problem as not just a matter of equality but that of a universally accepted principle of equality and an issue of universal human right respectively. Therefore, an appeal on behalf of USN Bangladeshi students and Bangladeshi students from other Norwegian universities, whose struggles are common, to Norwegian universities is made for the solution of their integration issues accordingly.
Key words: USN Bangladeshi international students, USN policies, academic, social, and professional integration, and equality. | |
