This research project will focus on learning more about how Ontario secondary schools achieve a sense of belonging for international students.  This study seeks to discover how the barriers to international students’ sense of belonging differ in Ontario schools at the intermediate/senior level. We hope that this study will support institutional efforts to improve international students’ engagement, mental and physical health, and academic performance at the intermediate/senior level.

The major goal for this project is improving our understanding of student and educator perspectives regarding the development of international students’ sense of belonging in Canadian, secondary-school environments. Secondary goals include improving our understanding of the factors associated with students achieving a mature sense of belonging in Canadian secondary-school environments and identifying ways educators can improve the transition of international students at all educational levels within our secondary-school schools. By achieving both major and secondary goals, we hope to develop a theory to support the enhancement of the transition process to guide educators in the development of improved educational practices.

The following research questions will guide our study:

1. What are the educational practices being used to support the achievement of international students’ sense of belonging in secondary-school educational environments?
2. What are student perspectives and expectations regarding educational practices being used to support the achievement of international students’ sense of belonging in secondary-school educational environments?
3. What are educator perspectives and expectations regarding educational practices being used to support the achievement of international students’ sense of belonging in secondary-school educational environments?

We are partnering with the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB).

If this project interests you, contact Dr. Smith at Clayton.Smith@uwindsor.ca.

Michelle Marcuz and Thu Le at the Canadian Association of Public School – International Conference