A comparative examination of the social problems experienced by international students at Çukurova University

This research aims to mutually examine the experiences and problems faced by Syrian and other international students who continue their higher education in Turkey in their social lives inside and outside the university, and the issues they face during the integration process. The research was designed with a mixed method design in which qualitative and quantitative research methods were used together. The population of the study consisted of 767 Syrians studying at Çukurova University, a state university, and 1124 other international students from 90 different countries, while the study group consisted of 302 volunteer university students; 176 Syrians, and 126 other international students. The data of the study were obtained by using a 32-question questionnaire prepared by the researcher, which has the feature of a semi-structured interview form created as a result of the preliminary interviews like free interviews with the students and leaves wide areas for the answers to the students. The results obtained in the research were obtained as a result of content analysis using comparative tables and graphics. The data were collected under five main themes: the processes and experiences of the students regarding their university life, the problems and experiences they encounter in their social/daily lives, the obstacles encountered by the students in the university integration process, their life practices and attitudes towards this process, and finally their thoughts and expectations about the future at the end of their education life. According to the findings; Syrian and other international students face the most language problems and discrimination problems in the integration process to both the university and social life, they experience communication and integration problems with the Turkish students they study with, and while trying to integrate into a different country and society they struggle fulfilling social life rules and social life practices. The most prominent problem of the participants is the discriminatory and even racist attitudes they encounter inside and outside the university. Both Syrian and other international students stated that they had problems in their relations with Turkish students and, to a lesser extent, with the lecturers at the university. Finally, while most of the Syrian students are considering staying in Turkey after their education, other international students stated that they aim to return to their country or migrate to developing countries to achieve their career plans there.