Selection of a Graduate Thesis Topic in a Multicultural Educational Environment

• This article presents a case study, performed at Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), Sweden, about the topic selection routines for a graduate thesis. The study focuses on the international graduate students who are having different academic cultures of their respective countries. Given that BTH has succeeded in the provision of an academic environment that has been efficient in absorbing different academic cultures in a productive manner at a reasonably good scale. However, in a multi-cultural educational environment, it is a challenge for most international students to adapt to the new academic culture and select the graduate thesis topic according to their real potential. Our findings gathered through an online survey, questionnaire, and focus group discussion is presented. The conclusions indicate, albeit, BTH has well defined routines for the thesis selection, the international graduate students face problems at the stage of thesis selection. The article concludes with suggestions to refine the thesis selection process at the micro level to help both students and staff.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Pedagogik (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Pedagogy (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)