Background
Discuss about the Aspect of Home Environment for Students Across Various Cultures.
Administration and colleges are currently operating in a different population globally and in Australia. There is an increasing need to serve such diverse population in a better manner through comprehensive understanding of the background in which international students reside and grow. The process of transition and integration of to the different environments by the overseas students has affected experience in settling in the new environments either as individual or as a group. This necessitates the importance of this research on the management of international students, there adoption to the new environments characterised by cross-cultural elements.
This research seeks to evaluate the designing of accommodation for both domestic and international students. Architectural housing design will act as an encouragement to the students in the process of socializing with the local residents and enabling adjustment to live and study in international country.
Many researchers have documented personal behavior and home created environment as having a strong association. Several research studies have documented about the strong relationship between personal created environment and human behavior. A precise way of rational thinking impacts the thoughtful option of human behavior which this research provide solutions in a quest to manipulate one’s mind through architecture. The socio-cultural aspects of students informs the architecture of student housing. This housing designs will be informed by theories of student identities which informs their housing need
The study will seek to;
Understand the connection between the students social cultural backgrounds and their adaptation to the new environment.
Examine architectural structures enabling scholars to adjust to the multicultural environment.
Over the recent years, the number of students studying in Australia has continual grow. The growth attributed mainly to the number of international students who prefer to study in Australia. According to Australian Trade and Investment Commission, (2018), there is continued growth in Australian high education reputation and education progressive systems. Statistics records that over a quarter of students are born overseas in Australia today, this has escalated the enrollment of International students from 0.65 million to 0.94 million. The statistics is equivalent to an yearly growth percentage of 3.8 over the subsequent seven years. The continued support by the government, educational institutions and scholars from various disciplines to the well-being of international students, is significantly visible in Australia.
There is a high risk for a group of international students of experiencing psychosomatic and physical hardship in the course of acculturation to a cross-cultural environment (Yue, 2014, Berry et al., 1987 $ Krishnan 1992).
Objectives
The analysis by Berry as advocated by Berry et al., (1987) discusses the acculturation attitudes as discussed in study of mental and various cultural and social adjustment and future expectation of various stress. Berry, (1994) classifies the types of attitudes as; integration, separation, adaptation, and sidelining that help inform the behavior of individuals. Many of the published researches explains that people who prefer combination modesare likely to experience less acculturative pressure while those who prefer isolation and sidelining methods are likely to face high levels of stress (Berry et al., 1987 $ Khrishnan 1992).
Separation and sidelining methods of acclimatization comes from a social and cultural extensions which measures the level of difficulty that are faced in daily activities. This theory greatly depends on variables such as language capability, ethnic distance and the exposure period with the host culture. This results into feeling lonely and isolated in the society and thus can lead to severe psychological issues to students
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2007), Lifeline’s survey of 3100 respondents, 60% of respondents claimed to have a sense of loneliness while 80% felt that there was an increase in the feelings of loneliness in the society. Such psychological problems associated with stress level, depression, anxiety and individual’s well-being begins to emerge among individuals.
The diverse population in Australia has resulted in numerous diverse cultural groups development. Many factors affecting the welfare of individuals in this groups have emerged and needs an appropriate address. According to Yue (2014), quality and quantity of collaboration in students’ living environment create a significant relationship between international students’ physical and psychological well-being.
There are numerous benefits of Institutional student housing. Firstly, being able to accommodate the different diverse individual’s characters while keeping their identity, it creates a sense of community. Consequently, it promotes a sense of comfort among the interacting persons social bond for all people. Secondly, social interaction among the student within their housing departments within an institution encourages familiarity and comfort among students of varied ethnic backgrounds.
The similarity with these projects is the structure of these student houses which does not give an accurate shape that signifies the level of togetherness in public institutions and university rooms. Cells enclosed designs in the students housing is essential that works as the since it gives a sense of privacy to students. The main aim is to give equality to all residents and to ensure openness and availability so as to achieve a distinct pictures and image for the public and the general environment. This kind of community setup gives an equitable and togetherness to all residents, by making sure that the given community is transparent, easily accessible, and recognizable to all people, this encourage people from various cultures to live well and interact with others.
Benefits of Institutional Student Housing
According to Cameron, (2012) the environment that exists around homes in a shared premise must be customized in a way to enable the occupants feel comfortable and develop new experience. Though regional culture to a large extent has presented the virtue of liberty and individualism, the variation of social factors among various locations has led to difference in culture in Australia. Uniting numerous cultural features of community life brings togetherness and sense of unity and belonging to people living together. Level of individual protection, independence together with personality are essential when students find their new homes and not staying with their parents.
The primary goal of Myspace a social mediaa platform is to improve social unity among students by providing large social areas that may involve large living rooms and shared kitchens. The students in this living room are provided with a fridge and storage space, those with different background will have distinct ideas of this spaces, using similar equipment enables them to understand on another and various cultures so as to easily communicate well.
Therefore, this study is seeking to explore the identity through institutional student housings, examining the use of place, the community development, and the strategies to customize the established students’ identity as well as those of others.
It’s a dream of everyone to have a place they can call home. As Students transfer away from their parental home, they face complications in adjusting to new surroundings and feeling comfortable with individuals in the same set-up. According to Clapham, (2005) and Gifford, (2002) individuals are devoted to their home through various perceptions which forms their character.
The meaning of home is influenced the societal changes surrounding an individual ranging from their varied life styles to their housing designs and the diverse social and ethnic circumstances (Clapham, 2005). It is impossible having specific association in the measurable features of the given structures and the ideal need of student fulfilment of needs. There is a composition of sense of belonging that builds up in the ownership of one’s environment and especially for a home of residence. This sense of belonging builds confidence within the individual and creates an attachment to the environment surrounding the homestead. Even with the different cultural set-ups that individuals are subscribed to a home creates a comfort and security together with the surrounding community.
Home notion is a social and emotional hypothesis that dictates the physical demonstrations of features that people perceive in their residential environment. Home necessity boosts individuals’ strength and experience of connecting to their household depending on the magnitude their homes have served them or have benefited them (Tester, 2011). Perceptions have a positive impact on people especially on their attachment to their residence and adopt self-identity in transiting to a new environment (Marcus, 1995
Sliding Transformer House, in Madrid
People who prefer different uses can enjoy this small customizable space. Moreover, it creates a flexible and adjustable solutions for individuals with different needs. According to PKMN Architecture, (2014) the concept of design creates a sense of home space which is based on personal identity and their personal space. There is a personal connection related to the space which reconfigures space to accommodate individual needs. (PKMN Architecture, 2014).
In conclusion, the connection people possess towards their home varies among individuals. Some possess emotional relationship while others may not essentially be involved to their homes. Research done in this field reveals that everyone has an attachment to their place of residence (Tester, 2011).
This study purposes at designing places that could attract the mind of the people positively by assimilating the philosophy of sense of home. The space inspirations are mentally inscribed in an individual. Therefore, to accept a new environment there must be an invoked way of thinking regarding the new place which is aided by designs and mental picture that plays with their psychology.