UDC 378

Han X.¹ (Moscow, Russian Federation) – 1824123927@qq.com; Voevoda E.V.¹ (Moscow, Russian Federation) – elenavoevoda@yandex.ru

¹MGIMO University

Abstract. The growing number of Chinese students at Russian universities has once again raised the issue of adaptation and integration into the student community at host universities. One of the challenging areas of this process is the intercultural aspect of adaptation and integration, as international students must overcome intercultural barriers in both academic and everyday interaction. The integration of international students into the student community of a foreign university requires constant communication and interaction with representatives of different cultures, i.e., intercultural communication. The purpose of this article is to define the theoretical foundations of intercultural adaptation and integration of international students into the student community of a Russian university and to identify potential intercultural tensions that complicate this process for Chinese students. The authors used an analysis of Russian and international scientific and pedagogical literature on the topic of the study, a comparative analysis of the typological characteristics of student cultures in the multicultural environment of Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University), and a survey of Chinese students. The study identified the theoretical foundations of intercultural adaptation and integration of Chinese students into the student community of a Russian university and defined potential intercultural tensions between representatives of China, Russia, Central Asian countries, and Israel that hinder this process. At the same time, the research revealed Chinese students’ desire to have friends among Russian and international students studying at a Russian university. The theoretical significance of this article lies in expanding pedagogical knowledge about the processes of adaptation and integration of international students into the student community at a Russian university. Its practical significance lies in the potential use of the research findings in working with international students to prevent and overcome intercultural barriers.

Keywords: adaptation, integration, student community, sociocultural, intercultural communication, typological characteristics.

References:

1. Abdullaeva, M. I. (2020). Proxemics as a factor of national communicative behavior. KANT, 2(35), 92-95. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.24923/2222-243X.2020-35.18
2. Berdaliyeva, R. Sh. (2018). Spatial features of the communication.  Problems of modern science and education, 1(121), 28-31. (In Russian). https://elibrary.ru/ylstyr 
3. Berry, J. W., Poortinga, Y. H., Segall, M. H., Dasen, P. R. (2008). Cross-cultural psychology: research and applications.  Kharkov: Humanitarian Centre. (In Russian)
4. Davydova, N.  V., Davydov, N. A. (2023). Analysis of the cultural parameter “masculinity / femininity” in the system of cross-cultural didactics. Koncept, 3, 46–60. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.24412/2304-120X-2023-11015    
5. Knezevic, V. D., Bratina, B. R. (2017). Is Milton Bennett’s model of inter cultural sensitivity really inter cultural? Concept: philosophy, religion, culture, 2, 20-26. (In Russian).
6. Kuznetsova, O. V., Deriugin, P. P. (2025). A Social Portrait of Chinese Migrant Students (on the Example of Irkutsk State University). Periphery. Journal of Non-Capital Spaces Research, 1(6), 25-32. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.38161/2949-6152-2025-1-25-32
7. Matskevich, E. E., Shirokogorova, T. G. (2021). Intercultural sensitivity as a necessary factor in effective intercultural communication of foreign students. Research focus: pedagogy and psychology, 10, 1(34), 363-366. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.26140/anip-2021-1001-0092
8. Nikolaenkova, M. S. (2019). Characterization of the Russian economy through the prism of Geert Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory. Moscow Economic Journal, 12, 387-397. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.24411/2413-046X-2019-10272
9. Sadokhin, A. P. (2005). Introduction to the Theory of Intercultural Communication. Moscow: Higher School. (In Russian). https://elibrary.ru/qubcdr
10. Skalnaya, O. A. (2023). Particularity of modern Chinese business culture through the prism of traditional Chinese philosophy (based on the typology of cultural dimensions of Hofstede). Tomsk State University Journal of Cultural Studies and Art History, 50, 121–129. (In Russian). https://elibrary.ru/aexxlq
11. Xu Zh., Zhang Y. (2025). Problems of adaptation of Chinese students to the Russian educational and socio-cultural environment. Modern Science: Current Issues of Theory and Practice. Series: Humanities, 07-2, 136-139. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.37882/2223-2982.2025.07-2.37  
12. Han, X. (2026). Features of the integration of Chinese students into the student community of a Russian university. In Collection of materials from the XXVII International scientific and practical conference “Current aspects of the development of science and society in the era of digital transformation” (pp. 80-85). Moscow: Publishing house “ANO DPO “ITBO University”. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.26118/6129.2026.12.22.049
13. Zhang, P., Liu, S., Erdyneeva, K. G. (2025). Transformation of Chinese Students’ Value Orientations in the Context of Global Challenges: Analysis of Dynamics and Influencing Factors. Psychological Sciences, 3, 88-103. (In Russian). https://elibrary.ru/onzvih
14. Shlyapnikov, V. N. (2020). Gender differences in the state of volitional regulation among representatives of masculine and feminine national cultures of the Russian Federation and the CIS. Experimental Psychology, 13(2), 139-152. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.17759/exppsy.2020130210
15. Yu, Ch., Feng, D. (2015). Towards a typology of Chinese culture in the aspect of intercultural communication theories. Young scientist, 9(89), 1308-1311. (In Russian). https://elibrary.ru/trngft
16. Hall, E. T. (1989). Beyond Culture. New York: Anchor Books Editions.
17. Hall, E. N., Hall E. (2014). How Cultures Collide. In: Weaver G. Intercultural Relations. Communication, Identity, and Conflict. Boston: Pearson Learning Solutions.
18. Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J., Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Sofware of the Mind: Intercultural Cooperation and Its Importance for Survival. 3rd edition.  New York, NY: McGraw-Hill
19. Trompenaars, F., Hampden-Turner, Ch. (2012). Riding the Waves of Culture. Understanding Diversity in Global Business. 3rd edition. London: Nicholas Brealey Publ.
20. Yu Х, Xiong W., Lee Y.-Ch. (2020). An investigation into interpersonal and peripersonal spaces of Chinese people for different directions and genders. Frontiers in Psychology. Environmental Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00981

For citation: Han, S., & Voevoda, E. V. (2026). Sociocultural foundations of Chinese students’ adaptation and integration into the student community of a Russian university.CITISE, 3, 467-481.(In Russian).