Socio-cultural barriers to the adaptation of foreign students to Russian higher education

Interest in the problem of socio-cultural adaptation of foreign students is growing due to intensification of the processes of internationalization of education, global competition of universities, and increase in the export of educational services. The purpose of the study is to analyze the types and causes of the emergence of socio-cultural barriers to adaptation of foreign students in the context of higher education in Russia; to work out recommendations for their reduction. The theoretico-methodological basis of the research is the ABC model of culture shock, phenomenological approach to the analysis of intercultural communications (ICC) in the global world. The socio-cultural barriers to the adaptation are considered through the prism of the lack of ICC resources increasing the manifestations of culture shock, and first of all — social perception. Based on the synthesis of studies by Russian and foreign authors, the article examines the causes of the formation of deficiencies in the linguistic, paralinguistic, cognitive and behavioral competencies necessary for successful socio-cultural adaptation of foreign students. The primary materials are the results of the monitoring «Assessment of the quality of education at the Financial University» conducted by the focus group method at the Financial University in the 2020–2021 academic year. To improve the socio-cultural adaptation of foreign students to education, the authors propose telecollaboration. The conclusions and recommendations given in the article can be used in the field of education for children and adults, including additional and inclusive education (students with disabilities, migrant students, etc.).