Information Communication Channels for Incoming International Students at Public Universities in Malaysia

Abstract

information for their academic needs. Due to unfamiliarity with the new information environment, incoming international students often face barriers associated with information acquisition that may hinder their academic success. To better serve these students, academic libraries need a better understanding of the nature of barriers that the students face in meeting their information needs. The purpose of this study was to examine the main information channels of incoming international students at three major public universities in Malaysia and to identify the main barriers in meeting their information needs. A questionnaire-based survey method was used for data collection. The sample comprised 115 randomly selected incoming international students from University Malaya, University Putra Malaysia and University Kebangsaan Malaysia. The results indicate that the Internet (95.6%) and university library (76.5%) were the main channels for getting the needed information. Majority of the respondents (72.2%) faced barriers when attempting to meet their information needs, which included unfamiliarity with the organization of academic library, inadequate proficiency of English and Malay language, inadequate knowledge about library system, hesitant to approach reference and professional librarians. Despite facing barriers, a considerable percentage of the respondents (47.2%) had not received any instruction from the library. The findings of this study can be used to assist instructors of information skills or information literacy in planning effective instructional programme that will lead to lowering anxiety levels among international students and enable them to overcome the barriers in meeting their information needs.