Work

The expectations and student satisfaction of mainland China Gen-Z students in an international branch campus

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The rapid economic growth of China has led to lifestyle changes in the young Generation Z Chinese nationals and their expectations in higher education. Joint collaborative universities between Chinese and overseas higher education institutions have been set up to provide alternative services to students from traditional high schools. In such an international branch campus, the response to the fusion of cultures and teaching methodologies to meet the younger Chinese expectations can be studied as satisfaction levels and student perceptions. Through a quantitative ex-post factor research design, archived survey data of 312 Chinese national students in an international branch campus in China were investigated. The parameters of student satisfaction levels with regards to their experiences with the teachers and teaching, student learning, student services, facilities, and campus life, and postgraduate destinations were analyzed. The results showed that students were generally accepting of the campus academic services, student services, and facilities but there were some areas for improvement in the students’ expectations of the professors’ knowledge and ability to motivate their learning, as well as the meeting of requirements for postgraduate work and studies. Cafeteria services and food quality were also areas for improvement. On the whole, student learning and the campus career-related services were important components and predictors of students’ overall satisfaction. Students who latter admitted to overseas graduate schools were more satisfied than students who later enrolled in graduate programs in their home country, China. The findings have notable relevance to the international branch campus experience for the younger generation Z of affluent Chinathat is relevant not only for China-based universities, but also that for international universities with large populations of Chinese international students.

Source: Social Sciences & Humanities Open

DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101470

Authors: Hai-Na Zhu, Bo-Yuan Li, Samuel Ken-En Gan, Qi Zhang

Institutions: Wenzhou-Kean University, Kean University, Wenzhou Municipal Sci-Tech Bureau

Language: English

Topic: International Student and Expatriate Challenges

Subfield: Communication

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,180