Yan Yuling, Jesus Pizarro
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to assess the level of awareness and extent of implementation of the Administrative Measures for the Enrollment and Cultivation of International Students by Schools (Decree No. 42, 2017) in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Southern China. A descriptive-correlational research design employing a mixed-methods approach was adopted. Data were collected from international students, faculty members, and administrators of three representative HEIs—Zhuhai College of Science and Technology, Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceutical Science College, and Guizhou Light Industry Technical College—between June and September 2025. A validated questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were used to examine levels of awareness, implementation, best practices, and challenges, while statistical analyses determined significant differences and relationships among variables. The findings indicated that both beneficiaries and implementers demonstrated a “very high” level of awareness and a “very great extent” of implementation of the administrative measures, particularly in the areas of teaching and social administration. However, variations were observed in specific areas such as scholarship management and supervision and administration. A significant positive relationship was also found between awareness and implementation levels. Qualitative results highlighted best practices, including strengthened international student support services and alignment with national policies, while challenges centered on cultural integration difficulties and limited cross-cultural training for faculty members. Overall, the results underscore that effective implementation of national policies plays a critical role in advancing the internationalization of education in Southern China, emphasizing the need for continuous policy enhancement, faculty capacity building, and sustained multicultural engagement initiatives.
Keywords: Administrative measures. educational internationalization, higher education institutions, international students, Southern China
https://doi.org/10.57180/vpoh3377