Araştırma Makalesi

An Examination of the Acculturation Experience of International Theology Students in Türkiye

Cilt: 30 Sayı: 1 15 Haziran 2026
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An Examination of the Acculturation Experience of International Theology Students in Türkiye

Öz

The rapid increase in the number of international students in Türkiye has made the process of acculturation a critical issue that influences identity, cultural values, and academic success significantly. Despite the growing body of research on acculturation, the literature remains insufficient in addressing the unique challenges and strategies encountered by students within the specialized context of higher religious education, where religious and cultural sensitivities are particularly pronounced. This research gap hinders the development of optimized guidance and support systems specifically tailored to the diverse needs of international theology students. This study aims to examine the acculturation processes and strategies employed by international theology students receiving higher religious education in Türkiye. The study was conducted using an explanatory sequential design, which is one of the mixed-methods designs. First, quantitative data were collected from 169 students at Necmettin Erbakan University, Ahmet Keleşoğlu Faculty of Theology. These students represented a wide geographical diversity, coming from 48 different countries across Europe, Africa, and Asia. The quantitative phase used the 84-item "Acculturation Scale" to measure integration, separation, and assimilation tendencies. The subsequent qualitative phase involved semi-structured interviews with 16 purposively selected students to provide deeper insight into their lived experiences. The quantitative findings revealed that students most frequently adopted the integration strategy (x̄=3.786), indicating a high level of tendency to maintain their own culture while engaging with the host culture, and least frequently adopted the assimilation strategy (x̄=2.568). Statistical analyses showed significant differences based on the religious majority in the students' home countries, with those from Muslim-majority countries showing higher integration and separation scores. Additionally, students from Asia exhibited a significantly higher tendency towards separation than their European counterparts. The qualitative data, categorized into socio-cultural, academic, and psychological dimensions, further clarified these findings, showing that integration was most prominent in social relations and academic environments. Conversely, academic separation was noted regarding differences in assessment methods and course content, such as the inclusion of secular subjects like the history of the Turkish Revolution. The study concludes that the higher religious educational environment in Türkiye is largely supportive of cultural integration, yet acculturation remains a multi-layered and dynamic process shaped by academic and religious experiences. These findings support the flexible interpretation of acculturation strategies, suggesting that students frequently adopt multiple strategies simultaneously depending on the context. Future research should adopt interdisciplinary and multidimensional frameworks to explore acculturation across diverse cultural and educational contexts. Particular emphasis should be placed on the influence of institutional practices, academic culture, and curricula on international students’ acculturation strategies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Destekleyen Kurum

This work has been supported by Necmettin Erbakan University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit under project number 23SBA17001

Proje Numarası

23SBA17001

Etik Beyan

The research was conducted following the Ethics Committee Approval dated 12/04/2023 and numbered 2023/182, obtained from the Social and Human Sciences Ethics Committee Presidency of the Necmettin Erbakan University .

Teşekkür

We would like to acknowledge the support of Necmettin Erbakan University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit.

Kaynakça

  1. Akıncı Çötok, Nesrin et al. “Evaluation of the Adaptation Processes of International Students Participating in Educational Mobility Through the Türkiye Scholarships Program”. Participatory Educational Research 12/4 (2025), 134-150. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.25.53.12.4
  2. Aliyev, Ramin. Farklı Kültürlerden Gelen Yüksek Öğretim Öğrencilerinin Eğitim Ortamlarındaki İlk Etkileşim Algılarının ve Kültürlenme Düzeylerinin İncelenmesi. Ankara: Ankara Üniversitesi, Doctoral Dissertation, 2011.
  3. Aliyev, Ramin - Öğülmüş, Selahiddin. “Yabancı Uyruklu Öğrencilerin Kültürlenme Düzeylerinin İncelenmesi”. Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 4/1 (2016), 89-123. https://doi.org/doi%2520:%252010.18506/anemon.20532
  4. Alkar, Elif. Eğitim Göçü Perspektifinde Uluslararası Öğrencilerin Kültürel Zeka Düzeyleri ile Kültürlerarası Duyarlılık ve Kültürlenme Düzeyleri Arasındaki İlişkilerin İncelenmesi. Bursa: Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, Doctoral Dissertation, 2022.
  5. Arends-Tóth, Judit - Van De Vijver, Fons J. R. “Multiculturalism and Acculturation: Views of Dutch and Turkish-Dutch”. European Journal of Social Psychology 33/2 (2003), 249-266. https://doi.org/10.1002/%20ejsp.143
  6. Atila Demir, Sevim et al. “International Students’ Adaptation Process in a Turkish University”. Journal of International Students 15/5 (2025), 41-62. https://doi.org/10.32674/0x74qh54
  7. Balcı, Şükrü - Öğüt, Nesrin. “Yabancı Uyruklu Üniversite Öğrencileri Arasında Kültürleşme ve Kültürleşme Stratejileri”. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi 42/1 (2019), 49-62.
  8. Bektaş, Dilek Yelda. Psychological Adaptation and Acculturation of the Turkish Students in the United States. Ankara: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Doctoral Dissertation, 2004.

Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

İngilizce

Konular

Din Eğitimi, Sosyoloji (Diğer)

Bölüm

Araştırma Makalesi

Yayımlanma Tarihi

15 Haziran 2026

Gönderilme Tarihi

15 Ocak 2026

Kabul Tarihi

29 Nisan 2026

Yayımlandığı Sayı

Yıl 2026 Cilt: 30 Sayı: 1

Kaynak Göster

APA
Erdoğan, İ., İder, S., & İpek, F. (2026). An Examination of the Acculturation Experience of International Theology Students in Türkiye. Cumhuriyet İlahiyat Dergisi, 30(1), 1-24. https://doi.org/10.18505/cuid.1863926
AMA
1.Erdoğan İ, İder S, İpek F. An Examination of the Acculturation Experience of International Theology Students in Türkiye. CUID. 2026;30(1):1-24. doi:10.18505/cuid.1863926
Chicago
Erdoğan, İrfan, Saadet İder, ve Fatih İpek. 2026. “An Examination of the Acculturation Experience of International Theology Students in Türkiye”. Cumhuriyet İlahiyat Dergisi 30 (1): 1-24. https://doi.org/10.18505/cuid.1863926.
EndNote
Erdoğan İ, İder S, İpek F (01 Haziran 2026) An Examination of the Acculturation Experience of International Theology Students in Türkiye. Cumhuriyet İlahiyat Dergisi 30 1 1–24.
IEEE
[1]İ. Erdoğan, S. İder, ve F. İpek, “An Examination of the Acculturation Experience of International Theology Students in Türkiye”, CUID, c. 30, sy 1, ss. 1–24, Haz. 2026, doi: 10.18505/cuid.1863926.
ISNAD
Erdoğan, İrfan - İder, Saadet - İpek, Fatih. “An Examination of the Acculturation Experience of International Theology Students in Türkiye”. Cumhuriyet İlahiyat Dergisi 30/1 (01 Haziran 2026): 1-24. https://doi.org/10.18505/cuid.1863926.
JAMA
1.Erdoğan İ, İder S, İpek F. An Examination of the Acculturation Experience of International Theology Students in Türkiye. CUID. 2026;30:1–24.
MLA
Erdoğan, İrfan, vd. “An Examination of the Acculturation Experience of International Theology Students in Türkiye”. Cumhuriyet İlahiyat Dergisi, c. 30, sy 1, Haziran 2026, ss. 1-24, doi:10.18505/cuid.1863926.
Vancouver
1.İrfan Erdoğan, Saadet İder, Fatih İpek. An Examination of the Acculturation Experience of International Theology Students in Türkiye. CUID. 01 Haziran 2026;30(1):1-24. doi:10.18505/cuid.1863926

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