New culture shapes people: How studying and working in Poland changes newcomers' cultural practices, values and identity
Going abroad to study is not just a change of address, it is also the beginning of a long personal transformation. Researchers from SWPS University, Lund University, and the Polish Academy of Sciences analysed how international students, and later graduates of management courses in Poland, acculturate in a globalised world.
The new study focused on acculturation. It is a complex process of changes in cultural practices, attitudes, values, and identities characteristic of the new cultural context. In the literature, individuals who endorse the culture of the host society while maintaining their heritage culture are referred to as bicultural.
In today's dynamically changing world, however, this bidimentional approach may no longer be sufficient, and recent research suggests that our sense of identity is much more complex. Therefore, researchers apply a multidimensional approach, assuming an orientation toward more cultures than just the heritage culture and the culture of the host country. This approach allows to better understand the migration experiences of certain groups, including international students.
The process of finding yourself in a new culture
In the qualitative longitudinal study described in the paper "I go to a different place, I become a different person». Acculturation strategies of the international graduates of English-language management programs in Poland: A qualitative longitudinal study”, published in the International Journal of Intercultural Relations, researchers followed the lives of eleven young people from Africa, Asia, and Europe for two years.
The first stage of the study took place while the participants were studying in English-language management programs in Poland, the second - when they began their professional careers. In both stages, the researchers conducted individual, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with the participants, who also created cultural identity maps, which they then compared.
Four acculturation strategies
The main conclusion from the analyses is that acculturation is a dynamic and long-term process, emphasises Agnieszka Golińska, PhD, a psychologist and management specialist at the Institute of Social Sciences at SWPS University, the first author of the paper.
The participants' narratives revealed that they employed four acculturation strategies:
- separation (strong attachment to the culture of their country of origin),
- individualism (emphasising one's individuality instead of identifying oneself through the lens of cultural origin),
- bicultural integration (combining two cultures: the country of origin and the new place of residence),
- multicultural integration (combining elements of multiple cultures simultaneously).
In the second wave of interviews, after two years of living in Poland, the participants most frequently employed the latter strategy.
One participant, Baris, stated as a bicultural person: I have Warsaw and Istanbul. Istanbul is the place where I come from, where I don't feel happy anymore (…). Warsaw is the place where I actually found my own self, I started a new life here. (…)
Emre, on the other hand, identified as a multicultural person: Ok, so I am a multicultural person and I have been living in three different countries. I was born in Denmark, I moved to Turkey and I now I'm living in Poland, and from each country I get some skills or characteristic things.
During the interviews, participants frequently reflected on their global mobility and early international exposure as key factors that enabled them to adopt elements of other cultures alongside their heritage culture(s). During interviews, they spoke about changes in their behaviours and cultural practices, values, and often also cultural identities.
A first step into adulthood
For many young people, moving to Poland to study was a test of independence. Dealing with life in a new country without the support of family or friends was linked to the process of entering adulthood. I'm in Poland, I have to deal with things on my own. I have to run my own errands, do the shopping, make food, says Tara, one of the study participants.
University and professional experiences gained in Poland also influence young people's value systems. They spoke about how their exposure to more participatory academic and organizational cultures led them to a greater appreciation for discussion, creativity, and independent expression of opinions. In addition, for some of the interviewed women, studying and working in Poland enabled them to challenge traditional gender roles; they were more likely to prioritise professional development and independence.
What about language?
While communicating in English at university or in the workplace is natural, a lack of fluency in Polish was a major factor that hindered building deeper relationships with Poles. Language makes you try to make friends that speak the same language as you because it's much easier. For example, when you go to university (…) it's easier for you to make friends with those that you can be more easily connected to with language, Olga points out.
Cultural identity changes
Research findings suggest that cultural identity is not a fixed attribute but a dynamic process – one that can shift significantly through intercultural contact. And moving to another country to study and deciding to stay, especially for young adults, can have a significant impact on cultural identity.
International students often approach cultural identity as something open and flexible. Instead of fully adopting or rejecting a new culture, they selectively integrate elements from multiple cultural contexts, and build a sense of self enriching them with each new international experience, emphasises Agnieszka Golińska.
Journal
International Journal of Intercultural Relations
Method of Research
Survey
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
“I go to a different place, I become a different person.” Acculturation strategies of the international graduates of English-language management programs in Poland: A qualitative longitudinal study
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