Parents and Female Students' Acceptance of the Phenomenology of Females Studying Abroad: A Case Study of the Sultanate of Oman

14 Pages Posted: 30 Jan 2012

See all articles by Safiya Rashid Sabeeh Al-Makhmari

Safiya Rashid Sabeeh Al-Makhmari

Sultan Qaboos University - Department of Educational Foundation and Administration, College of Education

Ismail Hussein Amzat

International University College of Technology Twintech - Center for Language & Malaysian; University College Sedaya International (UCSI) - Faculty of Social Sciences and Library Arts

Date Written: January 29, 2012

Abstract

This study examines Omani parents' perceptions about sending their daughters to study outside the Sultanate of Oman and how female students view this phenomenon. In addition, it investigates whether the parents in Oman support or oppose the idea of Omani women studying overseas. Moreover, the research studies the difficulties that Omani women faced while studying abroad and their solutions. This research embarks on a journey to review the literature on the topic that shows the reasons that motivate people to study abroad and the procedures that parents and their children should follow before choosing a host country. Twenty Omani parents and twenty female Omani students who have been to Australia were involved in this study, as well as twenty female staff workers at Sultan Qaboos University. The research is a survey in nature, using questionnaires as well as employing descriptive statistics with graphs and figures in answering the research questions. The findings of this study indicated that Omani female students were excited when they were given the opportunity to study overseas. Omani females who are studying or studied abroad have not faced difficulties in terms of social life and language barriers in host countries. They faced difficulties such as homesickness, cultural shock, food, host families and transportation. The majority of the parents consider the cost of studying abroad as an important factor in allowing or preventing their daughters from studying abroad, while it is less important for their daughters. Moreover, parents have identified five important factors that determine their choice for the host country. The most important of these factors is the religion of the country to which their daughters are sent, while it is the least important factor according to their daughters. Parents supported and accepted to send their daughters abroad for studying while they were hesitant at the beginning. Parents didn’t welcome the idea of their daughters travelling alone without a protector.

Keywords: Abroad, female students, Oman, Parents, Studying

Suggested Citation

Al-Makhmari, Safiya Rashid Sabeeh and Amzat, Ismail Hussein, Parents and Female Students' Acceptance of the Phenomenology of Females Studying Abroad: A Case Study of the Sultanate of Oman (January 29, 2012). OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 83-96, 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1995078

Safiya Rashid Sabeeh Al-Makhmari (Contact Author)

Sultan Qaboos University - Department of Educational Foundation and Administration, College of Education ( email )

PO Box 20
Al-khod SQU 123
Muscat
Oman

Ismail Hussein Amzat

International University College of Technology Twintech - Center for Language & Malaysian ( email )

Malaysia

University College Sedaya International (UCSI) - Faculty of Social Sciences and Library Arts

Malaysia

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