Bridging the Cultural Challenges: The Formation of Transnational Social and Cultural Opportunities by African University Students in Turkey

Abdulkadir Osman Farah

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

In Turkey, the number of African university students have been on the rise since 2011 especially through Turkish scholarships. The development has been part of Turkey’s soft-power expansion to Africa as well as in-capabilities of African students in accessing university education in the North. Using ethnographic qualitative research and focus group methods- including reaching out, interviewing and discussing with 45 African university students in Turkey, this paper finds that African Students in Turkey confront multiple challenges with regard to linguistic and cultural adaptation into the Turkish society. Despite such obstacles, the African students drawn upon their agency innovatively in promoting their educational interests relying on their abilities in breaking the socio-cultural barriers. Based on such findings, this research provided insights on how African university students in Turkey transnationally mobilize formal and informal resources in creatively developing transnational socio-cultural platforms not just beneficial for their immediate educational goals but also for their subsequent pursuit of opportunities and careers within increasingly complex transnational world.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAfrican Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development
Pages (from-to)20
Number of pages20
ISSN2042-1338
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 1 Oct 2021

Keywords

  • Transnationalism
  • University students
  • Soft-power
  • Civic engagement

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