IJMB Journal – Abstracts

International Journal of Management and Business

IJMB Volume VIII, Issue 2

 

Cross-country Analysis of the Usage and Impact of Digital Technology on the Students Behaviour in Germany and in China

A.Honal1, L.Seiler1, N.Buerger1, Q.Huifang2

1Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University Mannheim, Germany
2Economics School, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, China
E-mail: Andrea Honal, Luisa Seiler, Nicoletta Buerger, Qui Huifang

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the key findings of a cross-cultural survey conducted among a sample of 203 German and Chinese students analyzing the effects of new technologies, digital media and innovative methods in higher education from the student’s perspective. The study explored the similarities as well as differences between students from Germany and China towards the acceptance, usage and attitude of new approaches and tools in their academic life. Additionally, the impact of these innovative methods and tools on the students’ image perception of their home university was also analyzed. For the survey being conducted in late summer 2017, the Lime Survey online-tool was used. The empirical results showed that all participants were familiar with new technologies for learning, but the intensity of the usage at the two universities differed. The Chinese university (Huazhong University of Science & Technology) had frequently more interactive and virtual elements in teaching, whereas the German university (Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University) focused more on the traditional way of lecturing and used innovative technologies less often. In both countries, the university support and the teachers who use these new tools and approaches had a positive impact on the university image. The paper sums up the core results of this initial cross-cultural study. Moreover, several educational implications are derived and limitations are discussed.

Keywords:Higher education in Germany, Higher education in China, new technologies in the classroom, new approaches in the classroom, digital media, innovative tools, intercultural learning, intercultural teaching

Click for full manuscript (PDF) or back to Volume 8-2, Table of Content.