Reflection and Reflective Practice for International Students and Their Supervisors in Context

Abstract

Reflection and reflective thinking are critical for personal and professional growth, particularly within the higher education sector. Assessment, for example, can often expect students to reflect on various experiences or concepts. However, there is evidence, in the literature, to suggest that students are not adequately taught how to reflect, leaving tasks and products more superficial than what is possible. Further, reflection is necessary during workplace components of higher education programmes for success. For international students, reflection may be carried out differently to their supervisors in a workplace context, and we argue that both the international student and the supervisor need stronger awareness of these possible differences in order for a positive exchange to occur. This chapter therefore highlights what these differences might look like and offers ways in which all stakeholders can utilise effective reflective practice for personal and professional growth.