Achieving Sense of Belonging for International Students at Ontario Secondary-Schools

This research project will focus on learning more about how Ontario secondary schools achieve a sense of belonging for international students.  This study seeks to discover how the barriers to international students’ sense of belonging differ in Ontario schools at the intermediate/senior level. We hope that this study will support institutional efforts to improve international students’ engagement, mental and physical health, and academic performance at the intermediate/senior level.

The major goal of this project is to improve our understanding of student and educator perspectives regarding the development of international students’ sense of belonging in Canadian, secondary-school environments. Secondary goals include improving our understanding of the factors associated with students achieving a mature sense of belonging in Canadian secondary school environments and identifying ways educators can improve the transition of international students at all educational levels within our secondary school schools. By achieving both major and secondary goals, we hope to develop a theory to support the enhancement of the transition process to guide educators in the development of improved educational practices.

The following research questions will guide our study:

1. What are the educational practices being used to support the achievement of international students’ sense of belonging in secondary-school educational environments?
2. What are student perspectives and expectations regarding educational practices being used to support the achievement of international students’ sense of belonging in secondary school educational environments?
3. What are educator perspectives and expectations regarding educational practices being used to support the achievement of international students’ sense of belonging in secondary school educational environments?

We are partnering with the Greater Essex County District School Board.

This project received ethics clearance from the University of Windsor Research Ethics Board and the Greater Essex County District School Board.

While the first stage of this research is complete, we have begun discussions on a second stage to explore more deeply the transition experience of international students attending Ontario secondary schools.

For more information, contact Dr. Smith at Clayton.Smith@uwindsor.ca.