Abstract
While the number of migrants and mobility students are increasing all over the world, most organizations’ websites are designed for the local people. Since immigrants are new in society, finding unbiased, correct, and updated information from the original sites in the host country appears to be a challenge for them. This article describes the empirical attempt for creating a website for immigrants. As the assumption, immigrants are adult learners who learn information through websites in the host country and cultural competence is the learning content. Accordingly, Human Resource Development (HRD) as andragogical theory based on Transformative Learning Theory (TLT), which describes assumptions for adult learning, along with a user-centered model of web designing are employed for creating and designing content in the portal for enhancing cultural adaptation. Due to the nationality of the main author, the context of the study is Persian speaking immigrants in Finland. The website includes the required information for immigrants, which are chosen from original Finnish websites of different organizations in Finland. The content of the website is selected based on the cultural background needs of users and is organized based on adult learning theories. During the period of one month, a remarkable number of users visited the website and sent positive feedback through the Facebook page of the site. This feedback provides an excellent guide for updating the site in/during the next phase.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Statista Homepage. https://www.statista.com/. Accessed on 15 Sept 2020
Kuhn, P., Skuterud, M.: Job search methods: Internet versus traditional. Mon. Labor Rev. 123(10), 3–11 (2000)
Stevenson, B.: The Internet and job search. In: Author D.H. (ed.) Studies of Labor Market Intermediation, pp. 67–86. National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA (2009)
Thulin, E.,, Vilhelmson, B.: Virtual practices and migration plans: a qualitative study of urban young adults. Population, Space and Place (2013). https://migrationdataportal.org/themes/international-students
United Nation. https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/wmr_2020.pdf. Accessed on 15 Sept 2020
Migration Data Portal. https://migrationdataportal.org. Accessed on 15 Sept 2020
Adikari, S., Adu, E.K.: Usage of online social networks in cultural adaptation. In: PACIS, p. 7 (2015)
Ryan, S.D., Magro, M.J., Sharp, J.H.: Exploring educational and cultural adaptation through social networking sites. J. Inf. Technol. Educ.: Innov. Pract. 10, 001–016 (2011). https://doi.org/10.28945/1346
Wang, M.: Cultural Adaptation and Maintenance: Chinese International Students’ Use of Facebook and WeChat. Theses and Dissertations. University of South Florida (2018). http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7242
Yan, Y.: Facebook and WeChat: Chinese International Students’ Social Media Usage and How It Influences Their Intercultural Adaptation. Master's Theses (2009), p. 471. Marquette University (2018). https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses_open/471
Lawson, E., Vieregger, C.: Strategic actions in a platform context: what should facebook do next? J. Inf. Syst. Educ. 30(2), 3 (2019)
Hosseini, Z., Kotilainen, S., Okkonen, J.: The potential of social media to enhance cultural adaptation: a study on Iranian student in the finnish context. In: Rocha, Á., Ferrás, C., Marin, C.E.M., García, V.H.M. (eds.) ICITS 2020. AISC, vol. 1137, pp. 535–549. Springer, Cham (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40690-5_52
Tsai, J.H.C.: Use of computer technology to enhance immigrant families’ adaptation. J. Nurs. Scholarsh. 38(1), 87–93 (2006)
World Migration Report. https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/wmr_2020.pdf. Accessed on 15 Sept 2020
Statistic Finland. https://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa_en.html. Accessed on 15 Sept 2020
Finnish National Agency for Education Facts Express 9B/2018: Statistics on foreign degree students in Finnish higher education institutions in 2017 (2018). The Finnish National Agency for Education. Retrieved from https://www.oph.fi/sites/default/files/documents/167121_factsexpress9b_2018_0.pdf
Tilastokeskus (2018). http://www.stat.fi/til/sutivi/index.html. Accessed on 15 Sept 2020
Itälä, T.: Digital business and platforms. Transition 50 (2015)
Isopahkala-Bouret, U., et al.: Access and stratification in Nordic higher education. a review of cross-cutting research themes and issues. Educ. Inquiry 9(1), 142–154 (2018)
Peltokorpi, V.: Cross-cultural adjustment of expatriates in Japan. Int. J. Hum. Resour. Manage. 19(9), 1588–1606 (2008)
Zhu, L., Liu, M., Fink, E.L.: The role of personculture fit in chinese students’ cultural adjustment in the United States: a galileo mental model approach. Hum. Commun. Res. 42(3), 485–505. (2016)
Tung, M.L.: The roots of the challenge: undergraduate Chinese students adjusting to american college life. Int. J. High. Educ. 5(3), 121 (2016)
Yao, C.W.: Unfulfilled expectations: influence of chinese international students’ roommate relationships on sense of belonging. J. Int. Stud. 6(3), 762–778 (2016)
Okpara, J.O.: Cross-cultural adjustment of expatriates: exploring factors influencing adjustment of expatriates in Nigeria. Int. J. Cross Cultural Manage. 16(3), 259–280 (2016)
Maundeni, T., Malinga, T., Kgwatalala, D., Kasule, I.: Cultural adjustment of international students at an african university. J. Psychol. Afr. 20(1), 79–84 (2010)
Collin, J.: Digitalization and dualistic IT. In Transition, vol. 29 (2015). https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/80715433.pdf#page=32. Accessed on 15 Sept 2020
Croucher, S.M.: Social networking and cultural adaptation: a theoretical model. J. Int. Intercultural. Commun. 4(4), 259–264 (2011)
Trebbe, J.: Types of immigration, acculturation strategies and media use of young Turks in Germany. Communications 32, 171191 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1515/COMMUN.2007.011
Ye, J.: An examination of acculturative stress, interpersonal social support, and use of online ethnic social groups among Chinese international students. Howard J. Commun. 17, 120 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1080/10646170500487764
Wang, W., Huang, T., Huang, S., Wang, L.: Internet use, group identity, and political participation among Taiwanese Americans. China Media Res. 5(4), 4762 (2009)
Park, N., Song, H., Lee, K.M.: Social networking sites and other media use, acculturation stress, and psychological well-being among East Asian college students in the United States. Comput. Hum. Behav. 36, 138–146 (2014)
Sawyer, R., Chen, G.M.: The impact of social media on intercultural adaptation. Intercult. Commun. Stud. 21(2), 151–169 (2012). https://web.uri.edu/iaics/files/09RebeccaSawyerGuoMingChen.pdf
Raman, P., Harwood, J.: Acculturation of Asian Indian sojourners in America: application of the cultivation framework. South Commun. J. 73(4), 295–311 (2008)
Yanagihara, H.: Relationship between media use and cultural adjustment: A study on international students at Marshall University. Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1083. http://mds (2017)
Forbush, E., Foucault-Welles, B.: Social media use and adaptation among Chinese students beginning to study in the United States. Int. J. Intercult. Relat. 50, 1–12 (2016)
Xing, M.: How effective can multimedia be in language and culture learning? (Doctoral dissertation, University of Salford) (2003)
http://www.wenxuecity.com/. Accessed on 15 Sept 2020
Boiano, S., Bowen, J.P., Gaia, G.: Usability, design and content issues of mobile apps for cultural heritage promotion: the Malta culture guide experience. arXiv:1207.3422 (2012)
Shao, Y.: Mobile group blogging in learning: a case study of supporting cultural transition. Doctoral dissertation, University of Nottingham (2010)
Shao, Y.: Second language learning by exchanging cultural contexts through the mobile group blog. In: Thouësny, S., Bradley, L. (eds.) Second language teaching and learning with technology: Views of emergent researchers, pp. 143–168. Research-publishing.net (2011). https://doi.org/10.14705/rpnet.2011.000010
Shao, Y., Crook, C.: The potential of a mobile group blog to support cultural learning among overseas students. J. Stud. Int. Educ. 19(5), 399–422 (2015)
Isopahkala-Bouret, U., et al.: Access and stratification in Nordic higher education. A review of cross-cutting research themes and issues. Educ. Inquiry 9(1), 142–154 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1080/20004508.2018.1429769.
Finland Toolbox. https://toolbox.finland.fi/business-innovation/finland-as-a-global-leader-of-digitalisation/. Accessed on 15 Sept 2020
Redecker, C., Haché, A., Centeno, C.: Using information and communication technologies to promote education and employment opportunities for immigrants and ethnic minorities. Joint Research Centre, European Commission (2010)
Microsoft. How Finland is embracing digital transformation. Digital challenges and success showcases (2017). https://kampanja.pwc.fi/julkaisu/digital-transformation-survey
Fay, L.L., Kim, E.Y.: Transformative design pedagogy: a place-based and studio-based exploration of culture. J. Learn. Spaces 6(2) (2017)
Holmes, G., Abington-Cooper, M.: Pedagogy vs. andragogy: a false dichotomy? Pedagogy 26(2) (2000)
Fan, W.S., Tsai, M.C.: Factors driving website success–the key role of Internet customisation and the influence of website design quality and Internet marketing strategy. Total Qual. Manag. 21(11), 1141–1159 (2010)
Raward, R.: Academic library website design principles: development of a checklist. Aust. Acad. Res. Libr. 32(2), 123–136 (2001)
Usunier, J.C., Roulin, N., Ivens, B.S.: Cultural, national, and industry-level differences in B2B web site design and content. Int. J. Electron. Commer. 14(2), 41–88 (2009)
Tarafdar, M., Zhang, J.: Analysis of critical website characteristics: a cross-category study of successful websites. J. Comput. Inf. Syst. 46(2), 14–24 (2005)
Meng, Q., Li, J., Zhu, C.: Towards an ecological understanding of Chinese international students’ intercultural interactions in multicultural contexts: Friendships, inhibiting factors and effects on global competence. Curr. Psychol. 40(4), 1517–1530 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-019-00280-3
Rui, J.R., Wang, H.: Social network sites and international students’ cross-cultural adaptation. Comput. Hum. Behav. 49, 400–411 (2015)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Hosseini, Z., Okkonen, J. (2022). Web-Based Learning for Cultural Adaptation: Constructing a Digital Portal for Persian Speaking Immigrants in Finland. In: Arai, K. (eds) Intelligent Computing. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 283. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80119-9_62
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80119-9_62
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-80118-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-80119-9
eBook Packages: Intelligent Technologies and RoboticsIntelligent Technologies and Robotics (R0)