Presenting a model of cultural adaptation of Iranian students studying in Russian universities

The present study aims to provide a model of cultural adaptation of Iranian students studying in Russian universities. This research is applied development in terms of purpose, exploratory nixed-methods in terms of data, and cross-sectional survey in nature. The statistical population of this study in the qualitative phase included experts in the field of student cultural adaptation, from whom, 29 were selected as study sample using purposive sampling. In the quantitative phase, the statistical population included the medical students of the University of Sichnova in Russia in 2020, from whom, 278 were selected as a sample using random sampling. The data collection tool in the first phase was qualitative theme analysis (interview), while in the quantitative phase, questionnaires were used for data collection. To analyze the data in the qualitative phase, three steps of open, axial and selective coding were employed using Maxqda software, whereas in the quantitative phase, data analysis was based on structural equation model using Smart-PLS software. The results showed that the following factors have the greatest impact on cultural adaptation of Iranian students studying at Russian universities: individual factors, educational factors, psychological and emotional factors, cultural factors, supportive factors, social factors, communication challenges, interactive factors, previous experiences, and government and bureaucratic interventions. According to the obtained results, a model was proposed for the cultural adaptation of Iranian students studying in Russian universities.