Peer mentoring has shown beneficial effects in facilitating academic and social integration among first-year students in higher education. Previous research is, however, limited by the exclusion of a comparison group, to examine whether the integration process still occurs among non-mentored students, independently of peer mentoring. By using…

The purpose of the quantitative study was to identify doctoral students' level of integration with curriculum, peers, and faculty. Two hundred and sixty-five participants completed the Distance Doctoral Program Integration scale (DDPIs) designed to measure academic and social integration. Key findings indicate higher levels of integration with…

Despite the increasing global mobility in higher education, international students in the United States and Japan face persistent challenges in well-being and inclusion. This study investigates international students' experiences of loneliness and their social engagement in a comparative perspective, focusing on friendships and involvement with…

This qualitative study explored the benefits of peer group support for first-year South African students who live in university residences. A case study design was adopted and data were collected from first-year students via focus group interviews at a selected South African university. Thematic analysis revealed the benefits for first-year…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe how social integration in the form of building relationships with faculty and peers influenced the academic persistence of first-generation students who graduated from a large university in the Midwest. Data were collected from the Institutional Integration Scale and 20…

This study aims to investigate the educational problems of refugee students of Syrian origin. It is a qualitative research designed as a phenomenological study. Phenomenology, a qualitative research method, was the design of choice. The sample group consisted of two administrators, two school counselors, and 11 classroom teachers from a temporary…

The integration of ethnic minority youth can only be successful if they are motivated to establish and maintain social relationships in important institutions such as school. At the same time, worries about negative stereotypes about one's ethnic group can undermine ethnic minority students' motivation to approach others. In the present study, we…

Social integration (i.e., feeling a sense of belonging, involvement, support, or connectedness) is an important factor in university student retention, especially among students of color from underrepresented groups. Despite theoretical models and correlational evidence pointing to the relevance of these social experiences, few studies have…

This hermeneutic phenomenological research aims to explore how Jamaican students who extend their studentship beyond four years in a Higher Educational Institution (HEI) experience academic and social integration in Jamaica. The study was guided by three research questions three sociological models and one leadership theory. Astin's (1984),…

This study investigates school segregation for newly arrived adolescent students (aged 16-22) in Norway. Based on an interview study in two Norwegian adult education establishments and drawing on a sociocultural framework, the article highlights the students' experiences with and perceptions of school segregation. More specifically, it analyzes…

When accessing the internet, smartphones allow users to access social media, search for information, and communicate with others while on the go. Smartphones no longer only provide a way to connect; this technology also allows people relate to others and maintain their relationships. This study explores (a) student smartphone use behaviors, (b)…

Background: The benefits of friendships among peers with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities are well supported by research. However, little is known about the nature of these inclusive friendships in inclusive college courses. Method: We explored the perspectives of peers on the development of authentic friendships among peers…

This article shows the results of research on how Polish school space is perceived by students from a refugee background. The study was conducted through participatory photography and narrative interviews with 15 participants (ages 10-16). Action research was the main research strategy. The results indicate that students perceive the school space…

For several years now, military conflict, climate change, lack of food, and other forces have compelled many people around the globe to leave their countries and live in exile. As shown by exponentially increasing statistics, children are leaving their homes, sometimes their families, and their schools. Once they arrive in a country of…

Background: A peer-led self-advocacy group, Our Voice SA, is used as a case study to explore how the social engagement of people with intellectual disability contributed to their self-advocacy about things that are important to them. Method: Secondary analyses of data (interviews, observations and program data) were thematically analysed using…