Connecting transculturalism with transformative learning: Toward a new horizon of adult education

Abstract

The impact of transnational migration with activities across transnational borders has reconfigured multiple social and public identities calling for shifting to transculturalism as a theoretical framework in understanding the changing nature of adult education. Transculturalism becomes a mode of being and learning where humans interact with each other in a culturally diverse environment. Integrating different identities and connecting the global with the local, transculturalism is a learning commitment that facilitates socio-cultural adaptation and interaction in a dynamic society recognizing different worldviews. This paper offers a theoretical approach toward transculturalism as transformative learning with a focus on discussions of cultural concepts and connections with perspective transformation. The common ground between transculturalism and transformative learning is the idea of continuum, and interconnection of knowledge, skills and attitudes as an ongoing process of inquiry, thinking, reflecting, and acting. Connecting theories of transculturalism and transformative learning with our new reality of transnational mobility across the world opens new horizons for policies and practices in immigration and adult education.