Social Integration Challenges : From the Perspectives of International Students in Visby, Gotland.

Abstract: In a world that is fraught with changing paradigms, we transverse its length and breadth in search of meanings and explanations to its social dynamism with a view to broadening our understanding thereby making sense out of all the confusions. This qualitative study seeks to investigate social integration challenges confronting international students within Visby, Gotland. The study is based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs theory using the concept of Basic Needs, safety, Belongingness, Participation, Acceptance, and fulfillment to investigate the challenges of social integration. The study adopts qualitative methodology with the use of a semi-structured interview as a data collection method through a purposeful sample size selection of 12 respondents who are international students from a non – EU extraction. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The study came up with five findings, namely: Language Barrier, COVID 19, Sense of Isolation, Period of Study, and lack of registration number as the most visible challenges. The empirical findings corroborate with Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs theoretical postulations. The benefits and recommendations of the findings can serve as a guide for policymakers on how to enhance international student integration in the future.