Teaching Business Studies to Far East Students in the UK

Abstract

This chapter offers insights into the challenges students from the Far East face on courses in the UK. In addition, it investigates students’ perceptions of the value of the business education obtained in the UK, and of the applicability of that education in the students’ home countries. The results show that Far Eastern students employ thinking strategies that are different from Western students; they face dissonance in studying ethics and corporate social responsibility, which they consider as a ‘Western logic’; they have difficulties in understanding Western-based epistemology; and they look on a UK education more as a signalling/certification tool than as a valuable learning experience. The study concludes with suggestions on how some of the issues raised could be addressed.