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Raising international students’ success and satisfaction: A five-year case study of immersive block learning
Conference presentation

Raising international students’ success and satisfaction: A five-year case study of immersive block learning

Thomas Roche, Elizabeth Goode, Sharon Leslie and Erica Wilson
Asia Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) (Hong Kong, 23/02/2026–27/02/2026)
25/02/2026

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Abstract

international education transnational education student success student satisfaction retention
One Australian university teaching across three nations (Australia, China and Papua New Guinea), has developed and implemented a new delivery model for higher education: the Southern Cross Model (SCM). Informed by global pedagogical expertise, the SCM is a form of immersive block teaching engaging students in focused, blended study over 6-week terms, with a maximum of two units at a time. From 2021 onwards, the SCM was implemented across more than 900 units in disciplines spanning Health, Education, Business, IT, Engineering and Social Sciences. This presentation explores the collaborative implementation of the SCM and its transformative impact on international student cohorts. Analysis of over 150,000 grades shows that international student success increased by more than 25 percentage points after the introduction of the immersive block model. Postgraduate student success increased by more than 30 percentage points. Significant gains in grade point averages and satisfaction have also been observed. Focus groups with international students highlight improved time management, motivation and career readiness, alongside challenges with workload and social connection. This session highlights how whole-of-institution partnerships spanning teaching, support and administration can drive impactful educational reform and significantly improve outcomes for international students in global higher education.

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