This study is subject to several limitations that should be recognised. We measure learning outcomes that are associated with assessment tasks. There are other forms of learning outcomes which are not necessarily captured in formal assessment instruments (Carland,Carland, & Dye, 1994). Examples of these other learning outcomes include improved
teamwork and collaboration, enhanced reflection, information retrieval knowledge and oral communication skills (Boyce, 1999). These valuable learning outcomes were not tested here. Further, the international status proxy included in our model is relatively blunt in the sense that it is based only on whether a student is identified as being international
and fee-paying in the central university database. The faculty draws students from a wide range of cultures. Grouping students only as ‘‘international’’ may mask differences within particular cohorts, for example students from China may perform differently than students from Malaysia whereas students from both locations could well be included in the
category ‘‘international, fee-paying’’.