SAHRA ALTI AFRİKALI ÖĞRENCİLERİN TÜRKİYE'DE KARŞILAŞTIKLARI ZORLUKLARI VE BAŞ ETME STRATEJİLERİNİ KEŞFETME

Türkiye’deki Afrikalı öğrencilerin deneyimleri, belirgin kimlikleri nedeniylediğer uluslararası öğrencilerden farklı olabilir. Bu nitel çalışma, Sahra AltıAfrika'dan gelen uluslararası öğrencilerin Türkiye’de karşılaştıkları zorlukları vebu zorluklarla baş etme stratejilerini keşfetmektedir. Veriler, yarı-yapılandırılmışderinlemesine görüşmeler yoluyla İstanbul'da okuyan lisansüstü 17 Afrikalıöğrenciden elde edilmiştir. Bulgular; öğrencilerin çeşitli sosyo-kültürel, kişisel,psikolojik ve akademik zorluklarla karşı karşıya olduklarını göstermektedir.Öğrencilerin deneyimleri ırk, etnik köken, milliyet, cinsiyet ve özgeçmişlerinedayalı varsayımlar ve stereotiplerle şekillenmektedir. Bulgular öğrencilerinzorluklarla karşılaştıklarını gösterirken, aynı zamanda bu marjinalleştirmefaaliyetlerine karşı dirençli hale geldiklerini ve bu direnci nasıl geliştirdiklerinide ortaya çıkarmaktadır. Türkiye’deki yükseköğretimin uluslararasılaşmasındakimevcut çabalar göz önünde bulundurularak, çalışmadan elde edilen bulgularpolitik çıkarımlarla desteklenmiştir.

EXPLORING THE CHALLENGES AND COPING STRATEGIES OF SUB SAHARAN AFRICAN STUDENTS IN TURKEY

The experiences of African students in Turkey may be different from other international students due to their distinct identities. This qualitative study explores the challenges faced by international students from Sub Saharan Africa in Turkey and their coping strategies. Data were drawn from 17 postgraduate students from Africa studying in Istanbul through semi-structured in-depth interviews. Findings show that students faced a range of sociocultural, personal, psychological and academic challenges. Experiences of students were shaped by assumptions and stereotypes about their race/ethnicity, nationality, gender and background. While the findings show that students experience challenges, they also demonstrate how they have developed agency and become resilient through resisting marginalization experiences. Findings from this study have policy implications considering the current internationalization efforts of higher education in Turkey.

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