Authors: Amanda J Daly and Justine C Brown
Abstract: It is widely acknowledged that international students from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) experience difficulties with classroom participation and intercultural relationships. Recently, calls have been made for research to examine strategies that universities can implement to facilitate intercultural interactions and international students’ learning experiences. In response, this pilot study investigated the effect of an intervention program entitled Excellence in Experiential Learning and Leadership (ExcelL). While the ExcelL program has been successfully implemented in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and The Netherlands, this is the first time it has been utilised in the New Zealand context. Twenty-five students enrolled at a New Zealand institution completed the six-week ExcelL program. There were significant changes between the pre- and post-intervention scores for open-mindedness, social initiative, and emotional stability. Furthermore, international students reported increased confidence and friendships both in the classroom and in the wider community. While this pilot study has shown the immediate effectiveness of the ExcelL program, it is recommended that further investigation of the long-term impact of such an intervention strategy is conducted and that this research is repeated with an increased number of domestic students to ensure relevant comparisons across a larger sample size.
