The Relationship Between Global Citizenship Perception and Xenophobia Tendencies Among Turkish University Students Studying Abroad

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the perception of global citizenship and tendencies toward xenophobia among Turkish students pursuing university education abroad. With the impact of globalization, an increasing number of students travel to different countries each year for educational purposes and engage with multicultural environments. This process contributes to the adoption of universal values and the development of intercultural empathy; however, it may also lead to challenges such as social adjustment difficulties, cultural conflicts, and xenophobic attitudes. In this context, it is assumed that students with a high perception of global citizenship are more likely to exhibit open-minded, inclusive, and empathetic attitudes in their interactions with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. The research was conducted by collecting data through an online survey from 150 volunteer Turkish university students studying in various countries. Data collection instruments included the Global Citizenship Scale developed by Morais and Ogden (2011) and a scale based on the Integrated Threat Theory. The findings revealed that students with higher levels of global citizenship perception demonstrated significantly lower levels of xenophobia. Moreover, as students’ adaptation period and degree of cultural interaction within the host country increased, their xenophobic tendencies showed a notable decrease. The results indicate that international education experiences strengthen intercultural understanding and contribute to reducing social prejudice and discrimination. This study provides valuable insights for higher education institutions aiming to develop intercultural education strategies and to design programs that foster global citizenship awareness among students.

Keywords

• Global Citizenship
• Xenophobia
• International Students
• Intercultural Interaction
• Social Perception

Yurt Dışında Eğitim Gören Türk Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Küresel Vatandaşlık Algısı ile Yabancı Düşmanlığı Eğilimleri Arasındaki İlişki

Abstract

Bu araştırmanın amacı, yurt dışında üniversite eğitimi alan Türk öğrencilerde küresel vatandaşlık algısı ile yabancı düşmanlığı (xenophobia) eğilimleri arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektir. Küreselleşmenin etkisiyle her yıl daha fazla öğrenci eğitim amacıyla farklı ülkelere gitmekte ve çok kültürlü ortamlarla etkileşime girmektedir. Bu süreç, öğrencilerin evrensel değerleri benimsemesine ve kültürlerarası empati geliştirmesine katkı sağlarken; bazı durumlarda sosyal uyum sorunları, kültürel çatışmalar ve yabancı düşmanlığı gibi olumsuz eğilimleri de beraberinde getirebilmektedir. Bu bağlamda, küresel vatandaşlık algısı yüksek olan öğrencilerin, farklı kültürlerle etkileşimde daha açık, kapsayıcı ve empatik tutumlar sergileyebileceği varsayılmaktadır. Araştırma, farklı ülkelerde eğitim gören 150 gönüllü Türk üniversite öğrencisinden çevrimiçi anket aracılığıyla veri toplanarak yürütülmüştür. Verilerin toplanmasında Morais ve Ogden’in (2011) geliştirdiği Küresel Vatandaşlık Ölçeği ve Integrated Threat Theory temelli ölçek kullanılmıştır. Bulgular, küresel vatandaşlık algısı yüksek öğrencilerin yabancı düşmanlığı düzeylerinin istatistiksel olarak anlamlı biçimde daha düşük olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca, öğrencilerin kaldıkları ülkeye uyum süreleri ve kültürel etkileşim düzeyleri arttıkça yabancı düşmanlığı eğilimlerinde belirgin azalmalar gözlemlenmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlar, uluslararası eğitim deneyimlerinin kültürlerarası anlayışı güçlendirdiğini, sosyal önyargıların ve ayrımcılığın azaltılmasına katkı sağladığını göstermektedir. Bu çalışma, yükseköğretim kurumlarının kültürlerarası eğitim stratejileri geliştirmesi ve öğrencilerde küresel vatandaşlık bilincini destekleyecek programlar tasarlaması açısından katkılar sunmaktadır.

Keywords

• Küresel Vatandaşlık
• Yabancı Düşmanlığı
• Uluslararası Öğrenciler
• Kültürlerarası Etkileşim
• Sosyal Algı

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