Course design based on enhanced intercultural transformation theory (EITT): Transforming information systems (IS) students into inventors during academic exchange

Abstract

In this paper, we propose the enhanced intercultural transformation theory (EITT) with additional factors (i.e., support and motivation) as an extension to the existing intercultural transformation theory (ITT). Based on the EITT, we propose a three-phased (i.e., learner, explorer and inventor) framework of an exchange experience assessment (EEA) course with all five EITT factors (i.e., stress, adaptation, growth, support and motivation) interfaced with three stakeholders (i.e., student, patent advisor and instructor). Also, we report the design of the EEA course and its implementation in a university. The collected data confirmed our proposed EITT and EEA course framework that helped to transform information systems (IS) students into inventors. We found that students could develop patentable inventions through the stress-adaptation-growth process during their academic exchanges, but they still needed the patent advisors’ and instructor’s support and motivation. Our findings can enable any interested faculty in any university to attempt offering a similar course for the benefit of budding undergraduate inventors during academic exchange.