Academic Careers in Transnational Higher Education: The Rewards and Challenges of Teaching at International Branch Campuses

TY - JOUR

T1 - Academic Careers in Transnational Higher Education

T2 - The Rewards and Challenges of Teaching at International Branch Campuses

AU - Wilkins, Stephen

AU - Annabi, Carrie Amani

N1 - © 2021 European Association for International Education.

PY - 2023/5

Y1 - 2023/5

N2 - This research investigates the attitudes, working conditions, experiences, and job satisfaction of academic staff employed at offshore campuses. An online survey questionnaire was completed by 72 academic staff in 10 different countries, which included China, Malaysia, Qatar, the UAE, and Vietnam. It was found that the desire for adventure and travel, and to experience a foreign culture, were the most popular motivations for working at an offshore campus. Common challenges and disadvantages of teaching at an offshore campus are the lack of job security, support for research, academic freedom, and opportunities for development and advancement. However, such academics often have motivated students, smaller class sizes, greater autonomy at work, fewer meetings, higher disposable income, and less of the ‘publish or perish’ culture. Almost three-quarters of our research participants believe that it is possible to have an attractive career teaching in transnational education, at offshore campuses.

AB - This research investigates the attitudes, working conditions, experiences, and job satisfaction of academic staff employed at offshore campuses. An online survey questionnaire was completed by 72 academic staff in 10 different countries, which included China, Malaysia, Qatar, the UAE, and Vietnam. It was found that the desire for adventure and travel, and to experience a foreign culture, were the most popular motivations for working at an offshore campus. Common challenges and disadvantages of teaching at an offshore campus are the lack of job security, support for research, academic freedom, and opportunities for development and advancement. However, such academics often have motivated students, smaller class sizes, greater autonomy at work, fewer meetings, higher disposable income, and less of the ‘publish or perish’ culture. Almost three-quarters of our research participants believe that it is possible to have an attractive career teaching in transnational education, at offshore campuses.

KW - transnational education

KW - offshore campuses

KW - academic staff

KW - international academic careers

KW - transnational teaching

U2 - 10.1177/10283153211052782

DO - 10.1177/10283153211052782

M3 - Article

SN - 1028-3153

VL - 27

SP - 219

EP - 239

JO - Journal of Studies in International Education

JF - Journal of Studies in International Education

IS - 2

ER -