Valuing equality and diversity? An analysis of Asian international students’ experiences at the University of Manitoba

As a major hosting country of international students, Canada has benefited both socially and economically. Although international students come from diverse backgrounds, the majority are South and East Asians (Crossman, Choi, Lu, & Hou, 2022). Many Asian international students choose Canada to pursue better educational and occupational futures, but along the way, they experience a number of challenges to achieving this goal. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly worsened the economic, social and cultural conditions for many Asian international students. My study is a part of a SSHRC-funded project named “Examining the Racialization of Chinese, Indian and Korean Students in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg”. As a research assistant in Winnipeg, I have conducted eight interviews with South and East Asian international students to ask about their experiences at the University of Manitoba. This study uses critical race theory to interpret the results. The results of this study reveal that many Asian international students experience difficulties such as low income, cultural shock, and racism. These experiences are partly the result of institutional policies at the university that embed inequality into various aspects of the educational experience. The reduction of services and the lack of networking during the COVID-19 pandemic have further jeopardized Asian international students from reaching their goals. The conclusion of this thesis outlines some policy recommendations for the improvement of Asian international students’ educational experience at the University of Manitoba in the future.