Academic mobility and cultural change

Abstract

It is often claimed that the international academic sojourn has the capacity to bring about personal and cultural change in the sojourner, but such claims are not often supported by empirical evidence. Using an autoethnographic approach, this article offers a first-person account of the changes wrought in an international student by their time spent studying abroad. The study notes a growth in cultural knowledge, an increased tolerance of cultural differences and an improved ability to communicate across cultures.

Keywords:

• International education
• personal development
• cultural learning
• autoethnography