Abstract
In recent years, the number of students from Africa traveling away from their home countries to pursue higher education has increased significantly. They enroll in various universities across the world, particularly those in Taiwan as a result of the governement policy to advance international education. African students, however, have encountered various problems as they try to adjust to the new environment in their host countries. The degree to which an African student adjusts to the new social and learning environment in the host country is what will determine their academic performance.
The aim of this research is to identify adjustment problems faced by African students in Taiwan and to examine key factors that can lead to adjustment efficiency in academic performance for African students in Taiwan. A quantitative research approach was adopted to identify the adjustment problems and examine the factors for adjustment efficiency. To this end, this study conducted a survey to observe a sample selected from African students currently seeking higher education in Taiwan. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS program. A structured interview was also employed to supplement the analysis.
Findings were based on the results of descriptive analysis of adjustment problems and multiple regression analysis of the factors leading to adjustment efficiency in academic performance. Consequently, four out of the five hypothesis provided for this research were found to be accepted, showing that adequate support services, interpersonal relationships and learning orientation can significantly lead to adjustment efficiency in academic performance for African students in Taiwan. On the other hand, Taiwanese attitude to African skin color, interaction with the locals, ability to speak Chinese and differences in education system between Taiwan and home country were found to be the major adjustment problems identified among African students in Taiwan.
Feedback and findings about African students'' adjustment problems and those factors contributing to their adjustment efficiency in academic performance will be useful for Taiwan’s universities in ensuring adequate service provision for foreign students. It can assist with their development of orientation, counselling and training programs for the facilitation of African students'' cross-cultural adjustment in learning.

Abstract
In recent years, the number of students from Africa traveling away from their home countries to pursue higher education has increased significantly. They enroll in various universities across the world, particularly those in Taiwan as a result of the governement policy to advance international education. African students, however, have encountered various problems as they try to adjust to the new environment in their host countries. The degree to which an African student adjusts to the new social and learning environment in the host country is what will determine their academic performance.
The aim of this research is to identify adjustment problems faced by African students in Taiwan and to examine key factors that can lead to adjustment efficiency in academic performance for African students in Taiwan. A quantitative research approach was adopted to identify the adjustment problems and examine the factors for adjustment efficiency. To this end, this study conducted a survey to observe a sample selected from African students currently seeking higher education in Taiwan. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS program. A structured interview was also employed to supplement the analysis.
Findings were based on the results of descriptive analysis of adjustment problems and multiple regression analysis of the factors leading to adjustment efficiency in academic performance. Consequently, four out of the five hypothesis provided for this research were found to be accepted, showing that adequate support services, interpersonal relationships and learning orientation can significantly lead to adjustment efficiency in academic performance for African students in Taiwan. On the other hand, Taiwanese attitude to African skin color, interaction with the locals, ability to speak Chinese and differences in education system between Taiwan and home country were found to be the major adjustment problems identified among African students in Taiwan.
Feedback and findings about African students'' adjustment problems and those factors contributing to their adjustment efficiency in academic performance will be useful for Taiwan’s universities in ensuring adequate service provision for foreign students. It can assist with their development of orientation, counselling and training programs for the facilitation of African students'' cross-cultural adjustment in learning.

CONTENTS

List of Tables………………………………………………………………………………...vii
List of Figures……………………………………………………………………………….viii
Chapter 1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………...1
1.2 Research motivations……………………………………………………………………..2
1.3 Research Questions and Objectives………………………………………………………2
1.4 Expected contribution of the research……………………………………………………3
1.5 Thesis structure……………………………………………………………………...........4
Chapter 2 Literature Review……………………………………………………………….6
2.1 International Students…………………………………………………………………….6
2.2 Adjustment Problems Experienced by African students…………………………………8
2.3 Adjustment Efficiency in academic performance for African students in Taiwan………11
2.4 Factors leading to adjustment efficiency in academic performance among African students in Taiwan……………………………………………………………………………14
2.5 Summary of the Literature Review………………………………………………………23
2.6 Factors leading to adjustment efficiency in academic performance for African students in Taiwan (Conceptual frame work)…………………………………………………………….25
Chapter 3 Methodology……………………………………………………………….........26
3.1 Research method……......………………………………………………………………..26
3.2 Sampling ………………………………………………………………………………....26
3.3 Data collection……………………….….…………..……………………………………26
3.4 Research hypotheses………………………………………………..…………................28
3.5 Procedures for data analysis……………………………………,,………………………29
3.6 Limitations……………………………………………………………………..………...30
Chapter 4 Data Analysis and Findings …………………………………………………...31
4.1 Preliminary Data Analysis……………………………………………………………….31
4.2 Descriptive Analysis……………………………………………………………………..34
4.3 Reliability Analysis and Hypothesis Testing…………………………………………….38
4.4 Summarized results of the tested hypotheses…………………………………………....52
Chapter 5 Conclusion and Suggestions……………………………………………………53
5.1 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………..53
5.2 Practical implications…………………………………………………………………….54
5.3 Research limitations……………………………………………………………………...56
5.4 Further research suggestions……………………………………………………………..56
References…………………………………………………………………………………...57
Appendix……………………………………………………………………………………60

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