ERIC Number: EJ1168921
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Mar
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-8259
EISSN: N/A
The Impact of Transculturality on Student Experience of Higher Education
Smith, Heidi A.; Segbers, Teresa
Journal of Experiential Education, v41 n1 p75-89 Mar 2018
Background: Higher education outdoor studies programs retain a critical interest in student experiences as they seek to prepare citizens in a globalized, yet simultaneously neo-nationalist, world. Purpose: This research explored the impact of transculturality on the student experience of outdoor studies in the Transcultural European Outdoor Studies (TEOS) Masters, a course hosted by three universities in three countries. Methodology/Approach: A longitudinal study of the student experience, using a conceptual framework of self, place, transculturality, and outdoor learning theory underpins the research. Semistructured online interviews and one face-to-face retrospective interview were conducted with four participants throughout the course (Semesters 1, 2, 3), plus an additional five participants prior to the end of Semester 3. Findings/Conclusions: The findings elucidate students' transcultural self-growth and transcultural capabilities, including resilience, intelligence, and fatigue. Implications: Although challenges exist for course design, considerations of transcultural pedagogy and curricula, reflective practices, support for students and teaching staff, cultural learning experiences (including language acquisition), and a willingness to move beyond traditional models of curricula at the university level are recommended.
Descriptors: Student Experience, Outdoor Education, Graduate Students, Masters Programs, Longitudinal Studies, Semi Structured Interviews, Learning Theories, Cultural Differences, Student Development, Resilience (Psychology), Intelligence, Fatigue (Biology), Multicultural Education, Global Approach, Case Studies, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Norway; United Kingdom (England); Germany
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A