Life and academic experiences of Afghan female students in two universities in Bangladesh

Abstract

This research study aimed to explore the life and academic experiences of Afghan female students studying in two universities in Bangladesh. The study was conducted with fourteen participants, including both master's and bachelor's degree students, from eight different provinces of Afghanistan, namely Bamyan, Faryab, Ghazni, Herat, Kabul, Parwan, Samangan, and Wardak. The participants represented six different ethnicities including Hazara, Tajik, Turkmen, Sadat, Pashtun, and Uzbek, and were selected using purposive sampling. Data was collected through eight individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews and a virtual focus group discussion with six participants. The study found that Afghan female students choose Bangladesh because they believe that higher education is better than what is offered in Afghanistan and create more opportunities. Moreover, the study also revealed that the participants valued the support their teachers provided, which helped them overcome challenges that have faced in university. Additionally, the study provided insight into the motivation to study in Bangladesh, and the aspirations of Afghan female students after graduation, and highlighted the need for greater support to facilitate their academic success and personal well-being. Overall, this research study sheds light on the experiences of Afghan female students studying in two universities in Bangladesh and provides valuable information that can be used to improve their academic and personal lives.