EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ENGAGEMENT: AN EXPLORATORY PERSPECTIVE OF SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY

Abstract

Participation in extracurricular activities may satisfy student needs and provide postitive impacts on student life, including enhanced engagement towards their school. International students are important part of Interntional School of Thai Nguyen University. However, the extracurricular activities for international students are still limited. Grouded on Self-determination theory, our study adopts an exploratory approach to investigate the potential relationships of extracurricular activities, need, and engagement among international students. The results indicates that international students are aware of the importance of extracurricular activities in satisfying their needs and should make them more engaged. Therefore, International School should design regular programs of extracurricular activities for international students to help them with enhanced engagement. Future explanatory research could estimate the impacts of extracurricular activities on student need and further on their engagement to higher education institutions.