PWU Journal of Research, Innovation, and Transformation | Volume 1, Issue 1: 49-64, 2026 | DOI: 10.62762/JRIT.2025.485535
Abstract
The international higher education sector is characterized by the mobility of international students, who undergo transitions in unfamiliar cultural environments that may negatively affect their academic experiences and overall well-being. Culture shock often arises from insufficient knowledge of, and limited understanding about, the norms of the host culture, as well as cultural gaps between international students and the host country. Drawing on a netnographic study of YouTube vlogs by a purposive sample of international students in the Philippines, this paper examines their experiences of culture shock. The findings indicate that international students act as active agents in adapting to... More >
Graphical Abstract