Analysis of the Lived Experiences of Elite Migrant Students Regarding the Value Systems of Their Host Universities

Core and key values in every university are an inseparable part of academic culture. While values articulated in official university documents represent one dimension, another dimension consists of the values perceived and experienced by students. The present study aims to explore the value system perceived by elite international students by analyzing their lived experiences within the universities they attend. This research is qualitative in nature and follows an interpretative phenomenological approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 elite international students, and thematic analysis was employed for data analysis. Based on the framework proposed by Attride-Stirling, the analysis was conducted at three levels: basic themes, organizing themes, and global themes. The overarching global theme of "experienced university values" encompassed four organizing themes: scientific and research values, educational and learning values, social and relational values, and economic and career-oriented values. The findings of this study revealed a relative alignment between the values perceived by students and those articulated in the official documents of selected universities. In this regard, it is recommended that universities in Iran operationalize key values identified in this research—such as emotional support for students, stronger university–industry collaboration, diverse learning models, and the efficiency and quality of research—in order to bridge existing gaps and enhance the overall academic environment.