Study of Issues Affecting International Students at the Graduate School of Business and Public Policy in the Naval Postgraduate School

摘要

The U.S. Government in its efforts to promote a safer, free and democratic environment around the world provides graduate education to its allies and friends. International Military Students (IMS) who come to study at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) do so under these notions, with the objective that those who graduate will be able to apply what they have learned for the betterment of their military and country when they return home. For the U.S. Government to realize this objective requires that institutions such as NPS, and in this case the Graduate School of Business and Public Policy (GSBPP), continually refine their programs and services to meet IMS needs. The goal of this study of IMS at the Graduate School of Business and Public Policy is to identify issues that affect them. The survey population was grouped into three categories: graduating international students, new international students, and current international students. A total of 52 IMS participated in the study out of a possible 59 students from 51 different countries, including four graduating students, 10 new students, and 38 current students. Issues that were identified are as follows: lack of information on NPS before coming to Monterey, California; inability of some students to select their curriculum; and inability of some students to speak and write in English. Other issues include heavy workloads, unfamiliarity with IMS ranks by U.S. students and faculty, and the high cost of living in California. The authors suggest that courses like IT1600 Communication Skills and IT1700 (Academic Writing) be integrated into the main program to improve IMS speaking and writing skills. They also suggest that GSBPP do more formal integration of IMS and American students by, for example, showing movies on a variety of international cultures. Other IMS suggestions include a review of the IMS selection process and paying more attention to quality of life issues.