Constructing self through transnational nursing education in the Middle East

Abstract

Little is known about how the phenomena of transnational education (TNE) may shape the lifeworlds of specific groups of local students situated in different geographical and socio-cultural contexts around the globe.  The impact of TNE experiences on a local learner’s sense of self and persona is a dimension of TNE that has received scant attention.  A study was conducted with a small group of Bahraini female nursing students at an international branch campus of an Irish medical university in the Kingdom of Bahrain.  Through the methodology of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, the study explored how the students navigated complex facets of socio-cultural norms and values in order to become western educated nurses ‘at home’ in the Middle East.  For this particular group of learners, their TNE experience was transformational in character as they became not only Irish qualified professional nurses, but also empowered agents of change within their communities.