Evaluation of the Changes and Achievements Perceived in Graduate Tourism Education On the Basis of Transformative Learning Theory

Abstract

Abstract It is seen that postgraduate education gains importance to have new information, skills and experiments in a constantly changing and transforming the world. Postgraduate education in a field that shows a need for high-quality labor, such as the tourism industry, is expected to comply with this structure and create a transforming effect on the learners. This study aims to evaluate the personal changes, skills and learning outcomes that the students studying in postgraduate programs in the field of tourism can perceive as a result of the educational process on the basis of Transformative Learning Theory, and has been built according to the qualitative research model. As the data collection technique, the interview technique was employed to the study group which consists of 34 people who were designated through a purposeful sampling method. From the data obtained, totally eleven main codes and six groups of themes derived. The study findings showed that postgraduate tourism education generally provides the expected academic and vocational gains; however, they are not at a level that is effective in causing a transformation in individuals. On the other hand, it was detected that some transformations occurred in a small part of the study group in compliance with the transformative learning theory. Critical thinking, self-expression and showing empathy are remarkable among the new knowledge and skills defined as an achievement. Interrogative manner, acting self-confident, and being kind to different thoughts and cultures became prominent as the new personality traits. It will be beneficial for the researchers in the future to focus on the methods to improve the quality of education through program development in postgraduate tourism education. Furthermore, it can be suggested to implement such research periodically as long-term projects and to design them in mixed patterns.

Keywords

• Tourism education
• graduate education
• transformative learning
• transformation

References

1. Aboytes, J.G.R & Barth, M. (2020). Transformative learning in the field of sustainability: a systematic literature review (1999-2019). International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 21 (5), 993-1013. doi: 10.1108/IJSHE-05-2019-0168
2. Akçay, R.C. (2012). Dönüşümsel öğrenme kuramı ve yetişkin eğitiminde dönüşüm [Transformative learning theory and transformation in adult education]. Milli Eğitim Dergisi, 42 (196), 5-19.
3. Altunışık, R., Coşkun, R., Bayraktaroğlu, S. & Yıldırım, E. (2010). Sosyal bilimlerde araştırma yöntemleri (6. basım) [Research methods in social sciences, 6th edition]. Sakarya Yayıncılık.
4. Arı, A. & Kurnaz, E.A. (2018). Yabancı dil olarak İngilizce eğitiminde dönüştürücü öğrenme [Transformative learning in English education as foreign language]. Uluslararası Afro-Avrasya Araştırmaları Dergisi, 6, 331-346.
5. Aydemir, S. & Çam, Ş.S. (2015). Lisansüstü öğrencilerinin lisansüstü eğitimi almaya ilişkin görüşleri [Postgraduates' views on receiving postgraduate education]. Turkish Journal of Education, 4 (4), 4-16. doi:10.19128/turje.00354
6. Başkale, H. (2016). Nitel araştırmalarda geçerlik, güvenirlik ve örneklem büyüklüğünün belirlenmesi [Validity, reliability and sample sizing in qualitative researches]. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi Elektronik Dergisi, 9(1), 23-28. http://www.deuhyoedergi.org/index.php/DEUHYOED/article/ view/207 01.10.2018
7. Blalock, A.E. & Akeh, M. (2018). Collaborative autoethnography as a pathway for transformative learning. Journal of Transformative Education, 16(2), 89-107. doi:10.117 7/1541344617715711
8. Boonphadunga, S. & Seubsang, P. (2021). Development of learning and classroom management competencies of student teachers using the transformative learning concept. Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education, 12 (12), 2016-2025.

9. Çimen, O. & Yılmaz, M. (2014) Dönüşümsel öğrenme kuramına dayalı çevre eğitiminin biyoloji öğretmen adaylarının çevre sorunlarına yönelik algılarına etkisi [The influence of transformative learning based environmental education on preservice biology teachers' perception of environmental problems]. Bartın Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 3(1), 339-359. doi:10.14686/BUEFAD.20141 6221
10. Falco de, Stefano. (2019). From Silicon Valley to Africa Valley: Which paradigms are needed in the transition from II to IV industrial revolution? Knowledge roadmap and technological track. Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research, doi:10.1080/13511610.2019.1595538
11. Duffy, L.N., Stone, G.A., Townsend, J. & Cathy, J. (2020). Rethinking curriculum internationalization: virtual exchange as a means to attaining global competencies, developing critical thinking and experiencing transformative learning. Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, doi:10.1080/1937156X.2020.1760749
12. Güler, A. (2021). Müziğin görsel sanatlar eğitimindeki dönüştürücü rolü: Artografik soruşturmayla kültürlerarası ve disiplinlerarası olasılıkları yeniden keşfetmek[The transformative role of music in education of visual arts: Re-exploring the intercultural and interdisciplinary posibilities via artographic search]. Eğitimde Nitel Araştırmalar Dergisi, 28, 204-240. doi:10.14689/enad.28.9
13. İzmirli, Ö.Ş, Odabaşı, H.F. & Yurdakul, I.K. (2012). Dönüştürücü öğrenme kuramı ve öğretmen yetiştirme üzerine kavramsal bir çözümleme[Transformative learning theory and a conceptual analysis on teacher training]. Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 12(3), 169-178.
14. Jacobs, M.(2019). Applying a systems and complexity framework to transformative learning. Paper presented at the 63rd Annual Proceedings of the ISSS Meeting, Corvallis, OR, USA. Retrieved from https://journals.isss.org/index.php/proceedings 63rd/article/view/3644
15. Johnson, K. and Olanof, D. (2020). Using transformative learning theory to help prospective teachers learn mathematics that they already “know”. The Mathematics Enthusiast, 17 (2-3), 725-769, doi:10.54870/1551-3440.1502
16. Karaman, S. & Bakırcı, F. (2010). Türkiye’de lisansüstü eğitim: Sorunlar ve çözüm önerileri [Postgraduate education in Turkey: Problems and solution proposals]. Sosyal Bilimler Araştırmaları Dergisi, 5-(2) 94-114.
17. Karasar, N. (2019). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemi (34. Basım) [Scientific research method, 34th edition]. Nobel Akademik Yayıncılık.
18. Katz, S. (2019). Applying transformative learning theory to open education. Journal of Transformative Learning, 6 (2), 1-6. Retrieved from https://jotl.uco.edu/index.php /jotl/article/view/261/160
19. Kazmina, L., Provotorina, V., Makarenko, V. & Petrenko, A. (2020). Inovative trends of further education in the tourism and hospitality industry. Inovative Technologies in Science and Education, 210, 1-10, doi: 10.1051/e3sconf/202021012001
20. Kırlar Can, B., Ertaş, M. & Kozak, M. (2021). Understanding the philosophy of tourism education: A perspective study in Turkey. International Journal of Tourism Research, 23(6), 1112–1125. doi:10.1002/jtr.2472
21. Kuzu, Ö.H. (2020). Mission and vision analysis of tourism faculties in the context of the fourth generation university model: The case of Turkey. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 9 (1), 1-15.
22. Leshchenko, M.P., Kolomiiets, A.M., Iatsyshyn, A.V., Kovalenko, V.V., Dakal, A.V. & Radchenko, O.O. (2021). Development of informational and research competence of postgraduate and doctoral students in conditions of digital transformation of science and education. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1840, 1-14, doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1840/1/012057
23. Malkki, K. (2010). Building on Mezirow’s theory of transformative learning: Theorizing the challenges to reflection, Journal of Transformative Education, 8(1), 42-62. doi: 10.1177/1541344611403315
24. Merriam, S.B. (2018). Nitel araştırma- Desen ve uygulama için bir rehber (3.basım) [Qualitative research: A guide for research design and practise, 3rd edition] (Editor of Translation: Selahattin Turan). Nobel Akademik Yayıncılık.
25. Mezirow, J. (1997). Transformative learning: Theory to practise. New directions for adult and continuing education.https://www.ecolas.eu/eng/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Mezirow-Transformative-Learning .pdf
26. Nyamunda, J. & Westhuizen, van der T. (2018). Youth unemployment: The role of transformative learning in making the youth explore entrepreneurship. Journal of Contemporary Management, 15, 314-343.
27. Okumuş, F. & Yağcı, O. (2005). Tourism higher education in Turkey. Journal of Teaching in Travel and Tourism, 5 (1-2), 89-116. doi:10.1300/J172v05n01_05
28. Ribeiro, L.M.R.P., Gonçalves, E.C.C. & Guerra, R.J.C. (2020). The importance of qualification of the human resources in tourism: A study applied to travel agents in Portugal. Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural, 18 (4), 667-682. doi:10.25145/j.Pas os.2020.18.047
29. Ruhanen, R. & McLennan, C. (2012). The learning experiences and preferences of tourism postgraduate students. Journal of Teaching in Travel and Tourism, 12 (2), 146-164. doi: 10.1080/15313220.2012.678204
30. Samırkaş, M. & Bahar, O. (2013). Turizm, yoksulluk ve bölgesel gelişmişlik farklılıkları [Tourism, poverty and developmental differentialities of regions]. Detay Yayıncılık.
31. Sezerel, H. ve Tonus, H.Z. (2017). Turizm fakültelerinin gözünden eğitime bakış [Tourism faculties’ viewpoints on education]. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, (38),112-121.
32. Tarcan İçigen, E., Çalışkan, O. ve Seyitoğlu, F.(2018). Turizm sektörü yöneticilerinin aldıkları lisansüstü eğitime yönelik algıları [Tourism sector executives’ perceptions about postgraduate education which they received]. Seyahat ve Otel İşletmeciliği Dergisi [Journal of Travel and Hotel Management], 15 (1), 183-194.
33. Tsimane, T.A. & Downing, C. (2020). A model to facilitate transformative learning in nursing education. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 7, 269-276. doi:10.1016/j.ijnss.2020.04.006
34. Tymms, P. (2017). Anketler, (Ed.: Arthur, J., Waring, M., Coe, R. & Hedges, L.V.), (Çev. Editörleri: Atılgan Erözkan & Engin Büyüköksüz). Eğitimde araştırma yöntemleri ve metodolojileri[Research techniques and methdology in education]. Anı Yayıncılık. p.381-400.
35. Unur, K. ve Köşker, H.(2015). Türkiye’de turizm eğitimi ve turizm eğitimi alan öğrencilerin turizme bakış açılarına yönelik araştırmaların incelenmesi [Tourism education in Turkey and a study on the researches on tourism students’ viewpoints of tourism]. Çağ University Journal of Social Sciences, 12(1),44-71.
36. Upenieks, R. (2019). Exploring possibilities of transformative learning in continuing medical education: A literature review. ATEE Spring Conference Proceedings, Riga. Innovations, Technologies and Research in Education,703-716. doi:10.22364/atee.2019.itr.51
37. Walker, J. & Manyamba, V.N. (2020). Towards an emotion-focused, discomfort-embracing transformative tourism education, Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education, 26, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhlste.2019.100213
38. Weinberg, A.E., Trott, C.D., Wakefield,W., Merritt, E.G. & Archambault, L. (2020). Looking inward, outward, and forward: Exploring the process of transformative learning in teacher education for a sustainable future. Sustainability Science, 15, 1767-1787. doi: 10.1007/s11625-020-00831-9
39. Yıldırım, A. ve Şimşek, H. (2000). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri (2. Basım) [Qualitative research tecniques in social sciences, 2nd edition]. Seçkin Yayıncılık.
40. Zhu, G., Iglesia, P.M. and Wang, K. (2020). Examining Chinese and Spanish preservice teachers’ practicum teaching experiences: a transformative learning perspective, Journal of Education for Teaching, 46 (1), 124-128. doi:10.1080/02607476.2019.1708623