Factors influencing international students to further their tertiary education in South Africa: a study of the Gabonese students in Cape Town

Abstract

Until recently, the dynamic of international student mobility saw international students deciding to study in the countries of the western world. The USA, the UK, France, Germany, Canada and others were attracting most of them. Hence, academic researches about this phenomenon focused more on students in or going to those countries. However, the patterns of international student mobility have evolved, and new destinations have appeared to fit the requirements of prospective students. Those destinations comprise regions of the world, which a couple of years ago were not regarded as the first option for many students. Thus, nowadays the Middle East, Asia or Africa have become actors of the flow of international students. In Africa, South Africa plays a central part in attracting an important share of international students from and to the continent. Nonetheless, despite noticing the change in the patterns of international student mobility, few studies focus on the growing African international student mobility, hence little empirical literature has been published. Deciding to study abroad is not easy, as it requires taking into consideration multiple factors related to the host nation. In light of the above, this study focused on the factors influencing international students to further their tertiary education in South Africa, taking Gabonese students in Cape Town as a case study. Therefore, in order to explain those factors, the study attempted to determine the factors influencing Gabonese students to study in South Africa; to investigate the challenges faced by Gabonese students while studying in South Africa; to explain the advantages for Gabonese students while studying in South Africa, and to explain the benefits that South Africa could derive from international students. The qualitative method was used with a case study approach; data were collected using nonprobability sampling through face-to-face interviews; data were analysed by content analysis. A total of 25 Gabonese students registered in different institutions within the City of Cape Town took part in this study. Their rights to remain anonymous, as well as their privacy and liberty to withdraw from this study, were respected. The findings revealed that the decisions of Gabonese international students were influenced by factors such as relatives or friends, learning English, financial aspect and scholarships. However, they faced numerous challenges such as academic writing, learning difficulties, social grouping, physical and verbal abuses, to name a few. Nevertheless, if they still chose South Africa as their host nation, it was because more advantageous factors were involved in their decision-making process, factors such as satisfactory fees; affordable cost of living; less student unrests, and a good quality of education. The findings would allow a deeper understanding of the factors involved in the decisionmaking process of international students, in order to better plan recruitment policies to attract international students. The study then provided five main recommendations: to create awareness among students; to advise higher institutions of education in South Africa; to notify the Department of Higher Education; to alert the Republic of South Africa; to sensitize the Republic of Gabon. Lastly, the study will expand the empirical literature about international student mobility with specific reference to inter-African student mobility.