Abstract:
International education is considered the third largest export industry in Australia. An increasing number of international higher education students are choosing Australia as their destination. Many are English as an Additional Language (EAL) students, who come with different cultural backgrounds and diverse previous learning experiences. Thus, several universities have been looking carefully at how to address and ensure that these students, for whom English is not their first language, develop the skills that allow them to engage and complete their studies successfully. Assessment for learning is seen as an important way of enhancing and promoting students’ learning. Feedback, which is considered part of the assessment for learning process, is recognized as beneficial to students’ learning. This investigation is qualitative in nature aiming to understanding the complexity of feedback. It incorporates two phases of data collection. This presentation will focus on the first phase. Data collection methods included several interviews and the completion of a log. The early analysis of data provides an initial picture of the students’ needs, concerns, perceptions and expectations in relation to feedback. This has implications for universities to facilitate success for international students.