Nadir Çeliköz

The Transformational Learning of Three Adult Academicians

Mezirow (1991) defines transformative learning as a theory about constructing meaning, not just about knowledge acquisition, and the construction of meaning is about learning through critical reflection, rather than mindlessly or unquestioningly acquiring frames of reference through life experiences. Mezirow (1997) emphasizes that transformative learning is rooted in the way human beings communicate, and does not link it exclusively with the significant life events of the learner. Thus, the individual can make shifts in his/her world view and this can result in a more inclusive world-view. This qualitative article based upon transformative learning theory presents the common changes and transformations of three adults, following their movement to a new city and university as academicians.

Türkiye’de Yükseköğretimin Uluslararasılaşması: Bir Endeks Oluşturma Çalışması

The aim of this study is to test the validity and reliability of the Internationalization Index of Higher Education in Turkey , which provides a ranking of institutions of higher education in Turkey according to their degree of internationalization. The item discrimination, construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses), and internal consistencies of the index’s indicators and subindicators were tested using data obtained from 300 faculty members. The findings obtained showed that the index was made up of five indicators—( i ) university research performance, ( ii ) curricular efficiency, ( iii ) international linkages, ( iv ) student support, and ( v ) urban sufficiency—as well as of 33 subindicators, and that the index was valid and reliable. The study then made use of the Delphi method to establish the weight of the index’s indicators and subindicators. In sum, it can be said that the study effectively constitutes a proof toward utilization of the Internationalization Index of Higher Education in Turkey for the ranking of institutions of higher education in terms of internationalization.