Implementation of ICT in the educational process of psychological and sociocultural adaptation international students in the Kazakh higher education system

This article focuses on studying the psychological and sociocultural adaptation of first-year students from China in the higher education system of Kazakhstan. The research aimed to develop and evaluate an author-designed educational program based on information and communication technologies to facilitate a more successful adaptation of international students. The study involved 200 volunteers from Karaganda Buketov University, who were assigned to the control and experimental groups. The participants underwent pre-test and post-test assessments by completing questionnaires that measured social and psychological adaptation. The pre-test results indicated similar mean values of social and psychological adaptation in both groups. However, after the implementation of a 24-week educational program, a significant improvement in post-test scores was observed in the experimental group compared to the control group, where values remained unchanged. The obtained results indicate the effectiveness of the educational program based on information and communication technologies in enhancing the psychological and sociocultural adaptation of international students (p < 0.05). The congruence of these findings with prior studies supports their applicability to educators and administrators in educational institutions to design and implement comparable programs. Further research endeavours can expand the understanding of the adaptation process and contribute new insights for the development of more effective strategies to support international students in the educational environment of Kazakhstan. This article is also valuable for researchers in the fields of psychology and education who are interested in the adaptation of international students in universities worldwide. The findings from this study can contribute to the existing knowledge base and enrich the understanding of the adaptation process for students in a new cultural and educational environment.