Challenging journeys: Thai student's transition to university

As the number and diversity of students attending universities in Thailand grows, the need to understand and to be familiar with students’ cultures, as well as to effectively communicate and work with them, becomes increasingly important. Accordingly, understanding the various transitional experiences of students is essential in building a positive study environment and in improving the wellbeing of students while they are at the university. This study aimed to investigate the first-year experiences of Thai students in a Thai university context. The study investigated experiences associated with social integration and academic integration during students’ transition period in their first year at university. Influential factors and barriers that hinder the smooth transition were also examined. The study was conducted at Naresuan University, Thailand during May to August 2010. In examining the transition phenomenon, an ethnographic approach was applied. The semi-structured interview was the primary instrument for gathering data. The quantitative survey, observations of classrooms and special events were also employed. Other sources of data were generated from written documents such as student’s reflective journals, the researcher’s field notes, and relevant documentation. The analysis focused on coding and highlighting any recurrent themes related to the nature of university practices, students’ transitional processes, and their perspectives and attitudes toward their transition to university. The findings from the study provided valuable insights into the transition phenomenon among Thai first-year students at the Thai university. Insights were also provided on issues associated with the students’ potential for academic success during their first year of study at the university. The first-year experience phenomenon should continue to be investigated to further explore student experiences in the Thai context. The ultimate goal of the further investigations should be to identify issues that may hinder student academic and personal success and to improve the quality of education in the Thai higher education sector more generally.