Competing meanings of international experiences for early-career researchers: a collaborative autoethnographic approach

Sakurai, Y., Shimauchi, S., Shimmi, Y., Amaki, Y., Hanada, S. and Elliot, D. L. (2022) Competing meanings of international experiences for early-career researchers: a collaborative autoethnographic approach. Higher Education Research and Development, 41(7), pp. 2367-2381. (doi: 10.1080/07294360.2021.2014410)

Abstract

Although there is a pressing demand for international experience for early career researchers (ECRs), the meaning of these experiences arising from their day-to-day work responsibilities is still unclear. Accordingly, using our emic reflections for this autoethnographic study, we—five Japanese ECRs with years of international experiences—collaboratively explored how we made sense of our international experiences, that is, our distinct capital attained from international study and research experiences. We used Identity Trajectory as a conceptual tool to widely capture ECRs’ key experiences and sense-making. Our reflective conversations resulted in five major themes: (1) global personal network, (2) communicative competence, (3) scholarly community culture, (4) scholarly ambition and (5) pedagogical application. We consistently valued our attained capital, but simultaneously recognised dilemmas while engaging in our work. Lack of institutional support was critical, preventing us from using our international experiential capital and further developing as internationally active researchers. This study offers insights for those who may consider an academic career in Japan after returning from international sojourns and for policymakers promoting the internationalisation of Japanese higher education. Studies such as this one also contribute to the exploration of the value of international experiences for researchers in different contexts.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by JSPS: [Grant Number 20K14025].
• Keywords: international experience, early career researchers, autoethnography, Japan .
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Elliot, Dr Dely
• Authors: Sakurai, Y., Shimauchi, S., Shimmi, Y., Amaki, Y., Hanada, S., and Elliot, D. L.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education; College of Social Sciences > School of Education > People, Place & Social Change
• Journal Name: Higher Education Research and Development
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 0729-4360
• ISSN (Online): 1469-8366
• Published Online: 21 December 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 HERDSA
• First Published: First published in Higher Education Research and Development 41(7): 2367-2381
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher