Experiences of an expatriate academic chair in an Emirati college: an autoethnographic journey in educational administration across cultures

Abstract

My study is an autoethnographic exploration of the challenges of being an academic chair of a teacher training program in a women's college in the United Arab Emirates. By documenting and analyzing my experiences, as well as those of other Education chairs in the other five Education departments across the Higher College of Technology system, I have highlighted the complexities facing educational administrators working across cultures. Two theoretical frameworks have guided the study: Hofstede's (1986) Four­Dimension Culture Theory; and Tajfel and Turner's (1979) Social Identity Theory. My study explores the many complex layers of experiences I have had at the college at the system level, the college level, the community level, and the classroom level. Because of these varied experiences, I have had the unique opportunity to observe the educational environment our students come from, what they learn throughout their four years of study, and the schools where they teach after graduation. These are the experiences I analyzed throughout my autoethnography. An understanding of who the students are is essential to an understanding of the cross-cultural challenges I and my colleagues experience in our role as program chair. This study identifies the challenges educational administrators face when managing across cultures and identify elements in teaching and learning that are not easily transported across cultures. It also examines the cross-cultural strategies academic chairs and faculty members adopt to successfully deliver a quality academic program. This research will be of interest to academic chairs across the Middle East who may face similar experiences and can provide them opportunities for self reflection and development practice.