This qualitative study aims to present three international scholars’ transformative transcultural learning journey to help shed light on the complexities of international scholar development. Using an autoethnographic approach (Chawla, 2003) framed by transformative learning theory and comparative lenses, we conducted research to better understand the international academic journey and identity formation process, becoming international scholars. Transformative learning is “the process of using a prior interpretation to construe a new or a revised interpretation of the meaning of one’s experience in order to guide future action” (Mezirow, 2000. p. 5), “is a process of examining, questioning, validating, and revising our perspective” (Cranton, 2006, p. 23), which is usually triggered by a disorienting dilemma, stimulating learners to critically reflect on their own presuppositions (Mezirow, 1989). Studies often present what happened and how individuals transformed from life-crisis situations to new growth (Damianaskis et al., 2020; Zanchetta et al., 2017). Yet, living and learning in a cross-cultural environment can provide a unique comparative lens to understand if the triggers of transformative learning, often indicated as disorienting dilemmas or negative life crises, can be positive and future-oriented international scholars development that is purposefully fostered by learners, such as planting a seed consciously to start the journey (Nohl, 2015)? Our study addresses these aspects. Our research findings contribute to new theoretical and practical understanding and cross-cultural learning strategies and thus can support the development of current and future international students and scholars.

Authors:
Qi Sun, University of Tennessee, United States
Xiaoqiao Zhang, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
Xi Lin, East Carolina University, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Qi Sun is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of the Adult and Continuing Education Ph.D. program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.

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