The Effect of Motherhood on Female International Students from West Africa in Scottish Higher Education, specifically in Strathclyde University

Research Paper (undergraduate) , 2024 , 51 Pages , Grade: A

Pedagogy - Higher Education

The high education horizon of the 21st-century is increasingly being enriched by a significant number of international students seeking academic excellence, cultural sharing, and networking phenomena. A sizeable population of this group are women from the West African sub-region who relocates to other nations in pursuit of a postgraduate education to advance their degree and professionalism in a scholarly field.

The study adopts a mixed methods approach to examine the effects of motherhood on female international students from West Africa in the Scottish higher education system, specifically at Strathclyde University. A mixed methods approach involves the collection of both qualitative and quantitative approaches.

The findings reveal, that West African student mothers experience numerous challenges such as inability to balance studies and mothering, childcare difficulties, stress, anxiety, time management, financial constraints, marginalization, and isolation.

The study is of great value and significance especially in the educational sector as it allows the higher learning institutions to comprehend and develop the efficient approaches that can be incorporated to help in addressing the challenges caused by motherhood on female international Students from West Africa in Scottish higher Education.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
• 1.0 Background and Context
• 1.1 Problem Statement
• 1.2 Research Questions
• 1.3 Aims
• 1.4 Objectives
• 1.5 Scope and Limitations
• 1.6 Structure of the Study
• 1.7 Study Significance
• CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
• 2.0 Introduction
• 2.1 Motherhood and Academic Careers
• 2.2 Tenacity of Gender Stereotypes of Female International Students from West Africa in the Strathclyde University
• 2.2.1 Institutional support for female international Students from West Africa in the Strathclyde University
• 2.2.2 Cultural adaptation for female international Students from West Africa
• 2.3 Balancing Motherhood and Postgraduate Studies
• 2.3.1 Parental/Coping strategies for female international Students from West Africa
• 2.4 Support Systems and Interventions
• 2.5 Community Support and Advocacy Initiatives
• 2.6 Personal Resilience and Self-Care Strategies
• 2.7 Mentorship and Peer Support Networks
• 2.8 Conclusion
• CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
• 3.1 Introduction
• 3.2 Research Philosophy
• 3.3 Research Design
• 3.4 Decolonial Framework
• 3.4.1 Understanding Decolonial Theory
• 3.4.2 Applying Decolonial Theory to This Research
• 3.4.3 Shaping Data Collection
• 3.4.4 Shaping Data Analysis
• 3.5 Participants
• 3.5.1 Target Population
• 3.5.2 Sampling Technique
• 3.5.3 Sample Size
• 3.6 Data Collection Techniques
• 3.6.1 In-depth Interviews
• 3.6.2 Interview Guide
• 3.7 Data Analysis
• 3.7.1 Thematic Analysis
• 3.7.2 Applications for Data Analysis
• 3.8 Ethical Considerations
• 3.8.1 Informed Consent
• 3.8.2 Confidentiality and Anonymity
• 3.8.3 Right to Withdraw
• 3.8.4 Handling Sensitive Information
• 3.9 Limitations of the Study
• 3.9.1 Sample Size and Generalizability
• 3.9.2 Subjectivity
• 3.9.3 Access to Participants
• 3.10 Conclusion
• CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS
• 4.0 Introduction
• 4.1 How West African female students at Strathclyde University see the balance between motherhood and academic life
• 4.2 The main challenges the West African female student develops in the Scottish higher education system
• 4.3 The importance of support systems in Strathclyde University for the West African female student
• CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION
• 5.0 Introduction
• 5.1 Balancing Motherhood and Postgraduate Studies
• 5.1.1 Parental/Coping strategies for female international Students from West Africa
• 5.2 Motherhood and Academic Careers
• 5.2.1 Institutional support for female international Students from West Africa
• 5.3 Community Support and Advocacy Initiatives
• CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS
• 6.0 Conclusion
• 6.1 Recommendations

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This research aims to understand the experiences of female international students from West Africa who are mothers or mothers-to-be in a postgraduate program at Strathclyde University. The study seeks to identify the challenges these women face in balancing motherhood and academic life, as well as the coping strategies they employ to navigate these complexities.

• The challenges faced by West African female international students balancing motherhood and academic life.
• The role of cultural norms and values in shaping the experiences of motherhood and childcare for these students.
• The impact of motherhood on the academic and professional aspirations of these women.
• The importance of support systems and interventions in assisting these students in their academic pursuits.
• The development of effective coping mechanisms for navigating the challenges of motherhood while pursuing postgraduate studies.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Chapter 1: Introduction introduces the research topic, outlining the context of increasing international student enrollment in higher education and the unique experiences of West African female students who are mothers or mothers-to-be. It highlights the gap in understanding the challenges they face and the need for research in this area.

Chapter 2: Literature Review provides a comprehensive overview of existing research on motherhood and academic careers, exploring the tenacity of gender stereotypes faced by female international students from West Africa. It examines the balance between motherhood and postgraduate studies, the importance of support systems and interventions, and the role of community support and advocacy initiatives.

Chapter 3: Methodology details the research approach, including the mixed methods design, decolonial framework, and ethical considerations. It discusses the data collection techniques, sampling strategy, and data analysis procedures.

Chapter 4: Findings presents the results of the study, drawing on the experiences of West African female students at Strathclyde University to uncover the challenges they face and the strategies they employ to navigate motherhood and academia.

Chapter 5: Discussion delves into the findings of the study, interpreting the challenges and coping strategies identified and linking them to the existing literature. It explores the implications of these findings for understanding the intersection of motherhood and academia within higher education.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key words and concepts explored in this research include motherhood, academia, international students, West Africa, Strathclyde University, gender stereotypes, support systems, coping mechanisms, cultural adaptation, and decolonial theory.

• College: University of Birmingham (Education)
• Grade: A
• Author: Nicholas Odwar (Author)
• Publication Year: 2024
• Pages: 51
• Catalog Number: V1494872
• ISBN (PDF): 9783389055236
• ISBN (Book): 9783389055243
• Language: English
• Tags: Student Mothers, Motherhood, Learning, Higher Education, Support systems, Support network