Chapter 9, titled ‘The Hidden Rules: Acculturation in Real Practice’, presents an autoethnographic account of an international medical student’s journey through the complexities of cultural adaptation and employability in the Australian higher education context. The chapter illustrates how international students struggle with the unspoken norms, behaviours, and communication styles expected in professional settings, particularly within WIL experiences. Using the Graduate Capital Model, the chapter analyses how identity capital and cultural capital influence the development of employability skills, highlighting the need for tailored support mechanisms that address more than just academic or technical proficiency.

Acculturation: The process of cultural adaptation experienced by international students in a new social and professional environment.