Perspective Chapter: A Phenomenological Study of an International Class Program at an Indonesian University

Abstract

This study intends to shed light on the issues with Indonesian institutions’ foreign class programs. This study was conducted utilizing qualitative techniques and a phenomenological framework. Participatory observation and document analysis were used to collect data over the academic years 2019–2020–2021. Additionally, 42 informants (leaders in higher education, instructors, international students, and foreign students) who were chosen using the purposive sample approach were the subject of in-depth interviews. Using NVIVO 12.0 Software and the Milles & Huberman interactive model analysis approach, all observational data, documents, and interviews were thematically evaluated. The study’s findings revealed four factual issues with the international class program at Indonesian tertiary institutions, including the following: (i) some of these institutions do not have a permanent international standard curriculum; (ii) students’ English proficiency is low; (iii) international standard lecturer competence is not yet complete; and (iv) inadequate infrastructure and learning support services. These results provide tertiary institutions running international class programs with information and assessment materials to address these four issues. However, it is important for colleges hosting courses with students from other countries to be able to correctly prepare the four instruments mentioned above, preventing similar issues from occurring in the future.