Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) for Identifying the Integration of International Students in the Host Country and Its Culture

The integration of international students into host countries and their cultures is a multifaceted challenge that significantly impacts their academic success and well-being. This study leverages Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to model and interpret variables associated with the self-rated integration of 175 international students at Charles Darwin University (CDU) in Australia, using data from a 42-question survey. Employing machine learning models, including Decision Tree (DT) and Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), we use XAI techniques to identify variables most strongly associated with students’ self-rated integration, including career confidence, perceived future happiness, and perceived career obstacles. SHAP analyses and partial dependence plots provide global and instance-level insights, revealing both the magnitude and directional effects of these features. The findings highlight the predictive relevance of psychological and social variables in students’ self-rated integration, offering exploratory insights that inform targeted support programs. By enhancing model transparency through XAI, this research fosters trust in AI-driven educational interventions, addressing ethical considerations and promoting equitable outcomes for diverse student populations.