Information Problems Encountered by Asian Students at the European Universities. A Case of Poland

For about a decade, we observed the internationalization of European universities and a growing number of Eastern and Southeastern Asian students at European universities. Asian students arriving at European universities face several information and communication challenges due to their different socio-cultural and educational backgrounds. This paper reports on a study conducted about Vietnamese students in Poland and their information behaviour, competences, and needs surveyed in the context of cultural background. Standardized, open-ended interviews were chosen as the most appropriate instrument. Interviews with 17 MA and Ph.D. students were conducted in April 2018. The study provides a holistic picture of Vietnamese students’ information-related activities with regard to their cultural backgrounds and emphasis on cultural differences. It contributes to a better understanding of Asian students’ information behavior and their expectations of academic libraries. It also helps establish an information literacy education tailored for this group of users.