The impact of student–teacher relationships on the global competence of Chinese international students in Malaysia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/kzhkyy53

Keywords:

student-teacher relationships, global competence, Chinese international student, intercultural education, quality education

Abstract

Student–teacher relationships shape international students’ intercultural development, yet limited evidence exists for Chinese students in Malaysia. This study examines how student–teacher relationships influence global competence among this population. Using a survey design, four relationship dimensions (academic support, communication quality, emotional support, and cultural sensitivity) and four competence dimensions (issue analysis, perspective taking, intercultural interaction, and action orientation) were measured. The SEM results show that supportive relationships significantly predict global competence. Cultural sensitivity most strongly predicts perspective taking and issue analysis, followed closely by academic support. Communication quality most strongly predicts intercultural interaction, whereas emotional support most strongly predicts action orientation. This study has practical implications for educators and policy makers seeking to strengthen intercultural learning environments in higher education.

References

Amjad, A. I., Ishaque, M. M., & Rafique, M. U. (2023). Unraveling the psychological underpinnings of classroom dynamics: A study on teacher–student interaction. Journal of Development and Social Sciences, 4(3), 239–250. https://doi.org/10.47205/jdss.2023(4-III)24

Arasaratnam-Smith, L. A., & Deardorff, D. K. (2022). Developing intercultural competence in higher education: International students’ stories and self-reflection. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003229551

Beaton, D. E., Bombardier, C., Guillemin, F., & Ferraz, M. B. (2000). Guidelines for the process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures. Spine, 25(24), 3186–3191.

https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-200012150-00014

Bernaus, M., & Gardner, R. C. (2008). Teacher motivation strategies, student perceptions, student motivation, and English achievement. The Modern Language Journal, 92(3), 387–401.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4781.2008.00753.x

British Educational Research Association (BERA). (2018). Ethical guidelines for educational research (4th ed.). BERA.

https://www.bera.ac.uk/publication/ethical-guidelines-for-educational-research-2018

Cancino, M., & Núñez, I. (2023). EFL teachers’ perceptions toward multicultural classrooms: The role of intercultural sensitivity in developing intercultural communicative competence. REFLections, 30(3), 620–646.

https://doi.org/10.61508/refl.v30i3.267833

Chen, S., Wider, W., Ling, L., Jiang, L., Wu, H., & Tanucan, J. C. (2026). Evolving paradigms of intercultural competence research: Mapping global trends, theoretical frameworks, and emerging directions. Journal of Studies in International Education, 30(3), 380–402.

https://doi.org/10.1177/10283153251413536

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Deardorff, D. K. (2006). Identification and assessment of intercultural competence as a student outcome of internationalization. Journal of Studies in International Education, 10(3), 241–266.

https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315306287002

Deardorff, D. K. (2020). Manual for developing intercultural competencies: Story circles. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429244612

Den Brok, P., Levy, J., Brekelmans, M., & Wubbels, T. (2005). The effect of teacher interpersonal behavior on students’ subject-specific motivation. Journal of Classroom Interaction, 40(2), 20–33.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/23870661

Education Malaysia Global Services. (2024). International student data. https://educationmalaysia.gov.my/more/student-data/international-student-data

Etikan, I., & Bala, K. (2017). Sampling and sampling methods. Biometrics & Biostatistics International Journal, 5(6), 215–217.

https://doi.org/10.15406/bbij.2017.05.00149

Fantini, A. E. (2018). Intercultural communicative competence in educational exchange: A multinational perspective. Routledge.

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351251747

Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104

Guo, L., & Laokulrach, M. (2023). The contributions of teacher intercultural competence to academic satisfaction and engagement among international students in China and Thailand. NURTURE: Journal of Pakistan Home Economics Association, 17(4), 542–556.

https://doi.org/10.55951/nurture.v17i4.419

Guo, J., Zhang, H., & Hasan, M. H. (2024). Global competence in higher education: A ten-year systematic literature review. Frontiers in Education, 9, Article 1404782. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1404782

Gutiérrez-Santiuste, E., & Ritacco-Real, M. (2023). Intercultural communicative competence in higher education through telecollaboration: Typology and development. Education and Information Technologies, 28(11), 13885–13912. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11751-3

Hair, J. F., Jr., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Pearson.

Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55.

https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118

Huang, Q., & Cheung, A. C. (2024). More is not always better: The curvilinear relationship between intercultural learning and adolescents’ global competence. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 19(2), 835–857.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-023-10268-8

Huang, Q., Cheung, A. C., Xu, J., & Jiang, Y. (2025). Intercultural learning and adolescents’ global competence: The mediating effect of self-efficacy. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 105, Article 102143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2025.102143

Kaur, S., & Sidhu, G. K. (2009). A qualitative study of postgraduate students’ learning experiences in Malaysia. International Education Studies, 2(3), 47–56. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v2n3p47

Killick, D., & Foster, M. (2021). Learner relationships in global higher education: A critical pedagogy for a multicultural world. Routledge.

https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429294877

Kline, R. B. (2023). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (5th ed.). Guilford Press.

Leask, B. (2015). A conceptual framework for internationalization of the curriculum. In Internationalizing the curriculum (pp. 26–40). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315716954-10

Lin, P.-C. (2026). Enhancing intercultural communication competence through situated learning: A mixed-methods study of international students in Taiwan. Journal of International Students, 16(14), 251–272.

https://doi.org/10.32674/p6m1m866

Lu, J., Wang Guénier, A. D., & Hird, D. (2025). An empirical study on intercultural contact and intercultural communication competence of Chinese international students in the UK: A case study of Lancaster University. Journal of International Students, 15(2), 147–167.

https://doi.org/10.32674/xtpdzb48

Markey, K., O’Brien, B., Kouta, C., Okantey, C., & O’Donnell, C. (2021). Embracing classroom cultural diversity: Innovations for nurturing inclusive intercultural learning and culturally responsive teaching. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 16(3), 258–262.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2021.01.008

Mokhtar, F. A., Arshad, S., Jamil, N. J., Zakaria, M. K., & Ibrahim, C. W. I. R. (2025). Teacher–student interactions in face-to-face and online learning: A sociocultural case study in Malaysian higher education. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 24(12), 608-630.

https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.24.12.26

Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2018). Preparing our youth for an inclusive and sustainable world: The OECD PISA global competence framework. OECD Publishing.

https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/global-competence/pisa-2018-global-competence.html

Pianta, R. C. (1999). Enhancing relationships between children and teachers. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10314-000

Sidhu, G. K., Lim, P. C., Teoh, S. H., & Muthukrishnan, P. (2020). Students perspectives of postgraduate supervision: Desirable and undesirable practices. Environment-Behavior Proceedings Journal, 5(SI3), 205–210.

https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.2555

Singh, M. K. M., & Xue, W. (2025). Review of intercultural academic and social challenges among Chinese international students in Malaysia. Journal of International Students, 15(11), 99–120. https://doi.org/10.32674/f8zc6t90

Steele, A. R., & Leming, T. (2022). Exploring student teachers’ development of intercultural understanding in teacher education practice. Journal of Peace Education, 19(1), 47–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/17400201.2022.2030688

Teng, Y., & Cosier, M. E. (2024). Influences of cultural capital and internationalization on global competence in higher education: A systematic literature review. Frontiers in Education, 9, Article 1397642.

https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1397642

Thinh, M. P. (2025). Adapting teaching practices and enhancing intercultural competence: Student teachers’ experiences in an international exchange program. Journal for Multicultural Education, 19(1), 43–57.

https://doi.org/10.1108/JME-06-2024-0077

Tinto, V. (2017). Reflections on student persistence. Student Success, 8(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.5204/ssj.v8i2.376

Tormey, R. (2021). Rethinking student-teacher relationships in higher education: A multidimensional approach. Higher Education, 82(5), 993–1011.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-021-00711-w

Torres-Arends, I., & Jacobsen, M. (2024). “I am not complaining”: Listening to international students’ requests and complaints as expressions of diverse learning needs. Journal of International Students, 14(3), 385–407.

https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v14i3.6298

Tran, L. T. (2020). Teaching and engaging international students: People-to-people empathy and people-to-people connections. Journal of International Students, 10(3), 7–12. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v10i3.2005

Wang, L., Muthukrishnan, P., & Mary, I. (2020). Life satisfaction of international students: Intercultural sensitivity and knowledge sharing attitude as determinants. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(6), 2509–2519. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2020.080635

Wild, D., Grove, A., Martin, M., Eremenco, S., McElroy, S., Verjee-Lorenz, A., & Erikson, P. (2005). Principles of good practice for the translation and cultural adaptation process for patient-reported outcomes (PRO) measures: Report of the ISPOR task force for translation and cultural adaptation. Value in Health, 8(2), 94–104. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1524-4733.2005.04054.x

Zhao, W., Razak, N. A. A., & Nor, A. M. (2026). Acculturation experiences among Chinese international students: A systematic review of qualitative studies. Journal of International Students, 16(14), 313–340.

https://doi.org/10.32674/chh31297

Downloads

Published

2026-08-02

Issue

Section

Research Articles (English, regular edition)

Categories

How to Cite

Xue, Y., Muthukrishnan, P., Amjad, A. I., & Widayanti, C. G. (2026). The impact of student–teacher relationships on the global competence of Chinese international students in Malaysia. Journal of International Students, 16(17), 313-338. https://doi.org/10.32674/kzhkyy53