Mechanisms of Social Adaptation of Educational Migrants

Introduction. The urgency of the problem is due to the growth of academic mobility and the internationalization of higher education. The success of this process affects academic results, the psychological well-being of students and the competitiveness of university. The purpose of the study is to analyze the mechanisms of adaptation of international and non-local students to a new social environment in order to optimize the university's adaptation policy. Materials and Methods. The research is based on an integrated approach to social adaptation, analyzing the process through the prism of the interaction of organizational, social and psychological factors. As part of a qualitative study, eight semi-formalized interviews were conducted in May 2025: four with international students and four with non-local students at Ogarev Mordovia State University. A comparative analysis of the data reveals the specific cultural and language challenges the international students have to face. Results. The results demonstrate that the process of adaptation of educational migrants is determined by the complex interaction of organizational, social and psychological mechanisms. Low awareness of students about the organizational support of the university has been established. The language barrier and cultural shock significantly complicate the adaptation process for international students, while non-local students face mainly practical and academic problems. Discussion and Conclusion. The main differences in the adaptation strategies of international and non-local students were identified. While international students focus on overcoming cultural shock and the language barrier, non-local students are focused on solving everyday and academic problems. The study results and the recommendations developed can be applied to improve the university's adaptation policy and can be useful to specialists in the field of sociology of education.