Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice

Advisor

Michael Simonson

Committee Member

Deborah Seepersaud

Keywords

distance education, instructional technology, internacional studies, international education, lifelong learning, Venezuela graduate students

Abstract

The problem addressed in this study involved the motivations, the experiences of international students, and how these experiences affect the professional practices and personal lives of Venezuelan professional educators in the pursuit of international higher education studies. Although Venezuelan professionals were pursuing international higher education, perceptions regarding their motivations and experiences as international students had not been studied sufficiently.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the experiences of 28 Venezuelan professional educators who were seeking instructional technology degrees in international higher education. Further, the study analyzed their intentions to pursue international studies in instructional technology or related fields and explored how this decision had impacted their professional practice and personal lives.

The study emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive environment for postgraduate students in Venezuela. This involves addressing infrastructure issues and promoting cross-disciplinary learning and proficiency in multiple academic languages to improve instructional technology programs. One key finding in this research is that a supportive environment plays a crucial role in the success of universities offering postgraduate degrees, whether in instructional technology or any other field.

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