The role of personal values in enhancing student experience and satisfaction among International postgraduate students: an exploratory study

Universities are faced with the challenging task of educating an increasingly diverse and mobile student community with changing demands and aspirations. A key source of this diversity is international students and an understanding of the backgrounds of these students and their expectations is central to ensure effective delivery of educational and support services and to enhance student experience, and satisfaction. This study is focussed on four groups of Asian postgraduate students studying in Australian universities and investigates the influence of personal values in enhancing university experience and student satisfaction. Using multivariate data analysis and Structural Equation Modelling, this paper argues that personal values are predictors of individual behaviour and decision making which could impact on how they assess their university experience and satisfaction with the learning environment. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Dr. Zafer Bekirogullari.