Since 2022, many students from the People’s Republic of China have come to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to pursue postgraduate studies. As UTM continues to strengthen its internationalisation agenda, interactions between supervisors and international students have become increasingly common. These experiences extend beyond academic supervision and often involve adapting to different languages, cultures and educational backgrounds. My own experience supervising doctoral students from China has shown that, while cross-cultural supervision presents its own challenges, it also creates opportunities for mutual learning, understanding and academic growth.

One day, I received an email from a prospective Chinese student seeking to pursue her PhD under my supervision. Assuming she had already met all admission requirements, I agreed to supervise her. However, during our first online meeting, I quickly realised that communication would be challenging due to language barriers. That experience taught me the importance of understanding the diverse backgrounds of international students and adapting supervisory approaches accordingly. Since then, I have made it a practice to conduct online interviews with prospective students before accepting them. Over time, five doctoral students from China were officially assigned to me as their main supervisor: Su Xiaomei, Wang Qian, Wang Haosheng, Zhao Shan and Yao Qi.

Today, I am proud that all five have completed their doctoral studies. Their journeys illustrate not only academic achievement but also the resilience required of international students pursuing higher education far from home. Each faced unique circumstances and challenges, yet all remained committed to their research goals and persevered throughout their candidature. As my first PhD student from China, Su Xiaomei played a significant role in shaping my understanding of cross-cultural supervision. During the early stages of her candidature, communication was challenging due to language differences. However, as she spent more time at UTM, her confidence and communication skills improved considerably. Throughout her doctoral journey, she also faced serious personal challenges that could have easily disrupted her studies. Nevertheless, she remained steadfast to continue her research and eventually completed her viva voce. Her perseverance serves as a powerful reminder that determination often matters as much as academic ability in postgraduate education.

The second and third students under my supervision were Wang Qian and Wang Haosheng. Both had professional commitments in China while pursuing doctoral studies at UTM. Like many international doctoral candidates, they had to balance work responsibilities, family commitments and academic expectations. Despite these demands, they consistently utilised their time at UTM productively, whether through research, consultations or academic writing. Their dedication ultimately led to the successful completion of their studies, with notable academic accomplishments along the way. Similar determination was demonstrated by Zhao Shan, who regularly travelled between China and Malaysia throughout her candidature. Like many international students, she had to manage multiple responsibilities while ensuring her research progressed on schedule. Her ability to remain focused on her academic milestones despite these challenges reflected the commitment and discipline often displayed by international postgraduate students.

My fifth student, Yao Qi, also undertook a doctoral journey that demanded considerable resilience. Throughout her candidature, she balanced significant personal responsibilities with her academic goals. Despite the challenges she faced during her studies, she completed her research and defended her thesis. Her experience highlights the determination required to pursue a PhD in an international environment while navigating important life transitions.

Looking back, the journeys of these five graduates reveal more than individual success stories. They reflect the realities many international students face when leaving their home countries to pursue advanced studies in unfamiliar environments. Their experiences underscore the importance of adaptability, perseverance and strong support systems for academic success. At the same time, they illustrate the value of UTM’s diverse and inclusive academic environment, which offers students from around the world opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute to the global academic community.

Every PhD student has a unique story. Although their doctoral journeys may have come to an end, the lessons learned, friendships formed, and memories made along the way will endure. More importantly, their achievements stand as a testament to the resilience of international students and to UTM’s role as a global university that fosters academic excellence across cultures and borders. Well done, all the Drs.

By Associate Prof. Dr. Abdul Halim Abdullah Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology (FEST), UTM