ISSN: 2642-6250
Authors: Onifade DO*
Moving across international borders to take up lecturing job in a higher institution is a significant life event with subjective experience and expectations that may impact the wellbeing of the individual and their new environment. The aim of this paper was to review the factors contributing to the transition experience of a lecturer from an African country in a UK university. Literature review, anecdotal narratives, and reflection were used. Differences in culture and technological advancement were identified as factors contributing to the transitional difficult experience of a lecturer from Nigeria working in a university in the UK. Language as a symbolic aspect of culture is an area the author did not expect to have difficulty; but because of the differences in the Received Language and the accent spoken by most natives in the UK, the author experienced initial psychological distress listening to different accents of English language. The culture of lower power distance in the UK contrasts with what obtains in Nigeria. So, the author was initially uncomfortable to see how senior and junior colleagues and students could relate officially without officious formalities. The individualist as against collectivistic culture in the UK was another thing to adapt to, so also the practice of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion which allows everyone freedom from discrimination due to protected characteristics such as gender that goes beyond binary. The identified technological difference related to Electronic Learning Environment (ELE) and the battery of integrated software for communication and organizing tasks were a bit of a challenge at the beginning. Transition from an African country to the UK as a lecturer in higher learning environment attracts challenges of cultural and technological differences. Forewarning and organized orientation on arrival of the differences may lessen the possibility of the distress occasioned by the life event.
Keywords: Clinical Nursing; Higher Education; Nigeria; UK
