IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i11p6008-d562832.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unveiling the International Students’ Perspective of Service Quality in Chinese Higher Education Institutions

Author

Listed:
  • Fakhra Yasmin

    (School of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China)

  • Shengbing Li

    (School of Education, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
    Center of Crossborder Education, School of International Business, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China)

  • Yan Zhang

    (School of Educational Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China)

  • Petra Poulova

    (Department of Informatics and Quantitative Methods, Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, 500 03 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic)

  • Ahsan Akbar

    (Department of Informatics and Quantitative Methods, Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, 500 03 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic)

Abstract

Foreign students’ satisfaction with the service quality of Chinese universities is essential for the sustainable internationalization of China’s higher education system. The present study employs a survey research method to bring in the foreign students’ perspective of the various aspects of service quality in seven key Chinese universities. Accordingly, 618 valid questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA), and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The study findings posit that, although foreign students affirm that teachers are supportive and well qualified, they have concerns about the English proficiency of instructors. Likewise, foreign students were not satisfied with the frequency of formal research meetings with their advisers and the assistance with research techniques and relevant literature sources. Overall, female foreign students were less satisfied than their male counterparts. Moreover, foreign students reported higher satisfaction from teaching services and learning resources, moderate satisfaction from advisory services, and meager satisfaction from the administrative and support services of their respective Chinese institutions. Besides, we found significant differences between sample Chinese universities on various constructs of service quality. Likewise, arts and social sciences students were less satisfied with the service quality of the institution as compared to their natural sciences and engineering counterparts. The policy implications of this research for various stakeholders are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Fakhra Yasmin & Shengbing Li & Yan Zhang & Petra Poulova & Ahsan Akbar, 2021. "Unveiling the International Students’ Perspective of Service Quality in Chinese Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6008-:d:562832
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/6008/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/6008/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fakhra Yasmin & Ahsan Akbar & Zhang Yan, 2016. "An Exploration of Learning Styles Preferences of Higher Education Students in Pakistan," International Journal of Learning and Development, Macrothink Institute, vol. 6(4), pages 49-59, December.
    2. David Vykydal & Martin Folta & Jaroslav Nenadál, 2020. "A Study of Quality Assessment in Higher Education within the Context of Sustainable Development: A Case Study from Czech Republic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-22, June.
    3. Ann Bourke, 2000. "A Model of the Determinants of International Trade in Higher Education," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(1), pages 110-138, January.
    4. Yawei Du & Monique H. Arkesteijn & Alexandra C. den Heijer & Kun Song, 2020. "Sustainable Assessment Tools for Higher Education Institutions: Guidelines for Developing a Tool for China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-30, August.
    5. Wen, Wen & Hu, Die & Hao, Jie, 2018. "International students’ experiences in China: Does the planned reverse mobility work?," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 204-212.
    6. Chia-Nan Wang & Hector Tibo & Van Thanh Nguyen & Duy Hung Duong, 2020. "Effects of the Performance-Based Research Fund and Other Factors on the Efficiency of New Zealand Universities: A Malmquist Productivity Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-18, July.
    7. Shaoming Chen & Yuheng Lin & Xinyi Zhu & Ahsan Akbar, 2019. "Can International Students in China Affect Chinese OFDI—Empirical Analysis Based on Provincial Panel Data," Economies, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-16, August.
    8. Fernando de Oliveira Santini & Wagner Junior Ladeira & Claudio Hoffmann Sampaio & Gustavo da Silva Costa, 2017. "Student satisfaction in higher education: a meta-analytic study," Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(1), pages 1-18, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jiani Ma & Chengmengxue Sun & Yuan Wang, 2022. "The Mediating Role of Learning Engagement on Learning Gains of International Students in Chinese Higher Education Institutions—Based on a Multi-Cohort Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Ekrem Toklucu & Fatoş Silman & Selahattin Turan & Ramazan Atasoy & Ümit Kalkan, 2022. "The Effects of the Crisis Management Skills and Distance Education Practices of Universities on Student Satisfaction and Organizational Image," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-23, May.
    3. Yifan Liu & Tiantian Bao & Dan Zhao & Huiyun Sang & Benwei Fu, 2022. "Evaluation of Student-Perceived Service Quality in Higher Education for Sustainable Development: A Fuzzy TODIM-ERA Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-21, April.
    4. Yunbo Wang & Xiuping Duan & Ziyi Chen, 2022. "Pathways to the Sustainable Development of Quality Education for International Students in China: An fsQCA Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.

    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. Yunbo Wang & Xiuping Duan & Ziyi Chen, 2022. "Pathways to the Sustainable Development of Quality Education for International Students in China: An fsQCA Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.
    2. Lee, Claire Seungeun, 2019. "Global linguistic capital, global cultural capital: International student migrants in China’s two-track international education market," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 94-102.
    3. Faiz Muhammad Khuwaja & Waheed Ali Umrani & Sanober Salman Shaikh & Ammar Ahmed & Sanaullah Shar, 2019. "University Markor: A Context-Specific Scale to Measure Market-Orientation in Universities," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(2), pages 21582440198, June.
    4. Ren, Siyu & Hao, Yu & Wu, Haitao, 2022. "The role of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on green total factor energy efficiency: Does institutional quality matters? Evidence from China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    5. Samer Ali Al-shami & Salem Aldahmani & Massila Kamalrudin & Nabil Hasan Al-Kumaim & Abdullah Al Mamun & Mohammed Al-shami & Mustafa Musa Jaber, 2022. "A Model of Motivational and Technological Factors Influencing Massive Open Online Courses’ Continuous Intention to Use," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-23, July.
    6. NGARUKIYIMANA Jean Paul & TEYE Tetteh Emmanuel & Tian Lin & MUHIMPUNDU Nadege & AKIMANIZANYE Annonciate & MUJAWAMARIYA Odette & ABUBAKARI Sadiq Mohammed, 2019. "The Life Experience and Satisfaction of Foreign Students in Eastern China: A Case of Anhui Province," Journal of Social Science Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 6(2), pages 1-16, December.
    7. Huiying Zhang & Yikang Liu, 2022. "Do Foreign Direct Investment and Migration Influence the Sustainable Development of Outward Foreign Direct Investment? From the Perspective of Intellectual Property Rights Protection," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, April.
    8. Dian-Fu Chang & Wen-Ching Chou, 2021. "Detecting the Institutional Mediation of Push–Pull Factors on International Students’ Satisfaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-14, October.
    9. Soo, Kwok Tong & Elliott, Caroline, 2010. "Does price matter? Overseas students in UK higher education," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(4), pages 553-565, August.
    10. Javid Nafari & Alireza Arab & Sina Ghaffari, 2017. "Through the Looking Glass: Analysis of Factors Influencing Iranian Student’s Study Abroad Motivations and Destination Choice," SAGE Open, , vol. 7(2), pages 21582440177, June.
    11. Andrea Sütőová & Katarína Teplická & Martin Straka, 2022. "Application of the EFQM Model in the Education Institution for Driving Improvement of Processes towards Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-15, June.
    12. Růžena Lukášová & Daria Kuchařová, 2019. "Criteria of Satisfaction with Universities from the Perspective of Czech Students: A Qualitative Research Study," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 67(4), pages 1049-1060.
    13. Malik Fahim Bashir & Changsheng Xu & Khalid Zaman & Ghulam Akhmat, 2014. "Key Factors Determining the Rationale for Brain Drain: An Irony Never Recovered," International Journal of Economics and Empirical Research (IJEER), The Economics and Social Development Organization (TESDO), vol. 2(8), pages 308-320, August.
    14. Ting Zhou & Rob Law & Patrick C. Lee, 2021. "Exploring Sustainable Measurements of Academic Research: How Do Faculty Members in Teaching-Oriented Universities of China Evaluate Good Research in Tourism and Hospitality?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-20, October.
    15. Nina Petreska & Jana Prodanova & Ljupco Kocarev, 2023. "Should I Leave My Country? Higher Education Value Shaping Students’ Satisfaction and Brain Drain Intentions in Western Balkans," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, November.
    16. Lovemore Chikazhe & cmakanyeza@unam.na, 2022. "Self-Perceived Job Performance as a Mediator of the Effects of Academic Satisfaction and Quality on Loyalty," Journal of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour in Emerging Markets, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 2(15), pages 37-52.
    17. Kashif Iqbal & Yichu Wang & Khurshaid Khurshaid & Muhammad Haroon Shah & Muhammad Sohaib, 2021. "Current Trend and Determinants of Intentions to Migrate: Evidence From China," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(1), pages 21582440211, March.
    18. Yawei Du & Qing Ye & Hongjiang Liu & Yuting Wu & Fenghua Wang, 2023. "Sustainable Assessment Tools for Higher Education Institutions: Developing Two-Hierarchy Tools for China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-22, July.
    19. Luis Doña-Toledo & Teodoro Luque-Martínez & Salvador Barrio-García, 2017. "Antecedents and consequences of university perceived value, according to graduates: The moderating role of Higher Education involvement," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 14(4), pages 535-565, December.
    20. José Manuel Arenas Reina & Juan David Cano-Moreno & Francisca Victoria Sánchez Martínez & Manuel Islán Marcos, 2021. "Methodology for Analysis and Quantitative Evaluation of Teaching Quality in University Subjects," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-19, April.

    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:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6008-:d:562832. 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.