Inclusion and Exclusion in Higher Education: What Are the Factors Influencing Discrimination Against International Students in South Africa?

The South African higher education system is one of the most diverse systems in Africa with a high percentage of international students. Yet, there are many factors that create discrimination against these individuals and those who would aspire to further their education in South Africa. The diversity found within universities creates an environment where all different opinions can be heard which allows for vibrant discussion among classmates and professors alike. Unfortunately, this lack of representation also has its downsides as some schools do not have enough resources or staff members dedicated specifically to foreign student needs leaving them feeling marginalized on campus. This research contributes to the theoretical understanding of factors affecting the discrimination of international students in South Africa. It also improves our empirical knowledge of two major factors: lack of familiarity with backgrounds outside one’s own culture or country as well as religious differences within communities which may lead to biases based on religion rather than other qualities such as appearance or language fluency; but it remains unclear if these disparities exist due to prejudices held by individuals at school for reasons unrelated to racism (though cultural difference already increases exclusion).

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