The relationship between supportive campus environment and cultural diversity in enhancing students’ sense of belonging in higher education

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: The current study examines the moderating effect of supportive campus environment on the relationship between cultural diversity and students’ sense of belonging in a university in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey was designed and used to gather data from a sample of 2,026 registered undergraduate students. Using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 software, the data gathered were analysed by way of hierarchical regression analysis. Findings: Results of the hierarchical regression analysis revealed that supportive campus environment and cross-cultural interaction serve as strong predictors of students’ sense of belonging. Furthermore, a simple slope analysis showed that supportive campus environment enhance: the positive relationship between cross-cultural interaction and students’ sense of belonging; and the positive relationship between students’ interaction with diverse peers and their sense of belonging. Originality/value: This study addresses important knowledge and practical gaps in the relationship between supportive campus environment, cultural diversity and students’ sense of belonging in higher education. The results further highlight the significance of institutional structures, policies and practices that aim at enhancing students’ sense of belonging and reducing possible feeling of otherlings that arise due to a lack of supportive campus structures.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)429-444
Number of pages16
JournalJournal for Multicultural Education
Volume15
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Nov 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cross-cultural interaction
  • Cultural diversity
  • Intercultural experiences
  • Multiculturalism
  • Sense of belonging

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The relationship between supportive campus environment and cultural diversity in enhancing students’ sense of belonging in higher education'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this