This study gathers the experiences of a group of academics who have chosen to take up new academic positions in the United Arab Emirates. This was to be able to explore, from the perspective of the academic, the move from the familiar to the unfamiliar, to determine the reasons behind their move and to consider the impact this may have on their future career direction. The project builds on a small body of literature exploring the experiences of expatriate academics and significantly adds to this research. Much of the available literature is now over ten years old, so this research project has provided an opportunity to update the available research. This project investigated the experiences of eighteen expatriate academics of twelve nationalities working in a range of higher educational institutions in the United Arab Emirates. Semi-structured interviews were used to acquire the information and the resultant data was interrogated using the General Inductive approach. The fmdings demonstrate that career and money are not the prime motivators to make people decide to go. They are supporters ofthe underlying drive to improve aspects of the academic's personal life, especially that of their family. Fundamentally it is a lifestyle decision which drives the decision to relocate in many cases and provides the motivation to overcome the many challenges such a move entails. There was also a perceived concern over their ability to continue their career in first world universities due to the challenges in conducting quality research. These fmdings are insightful to individual academics considering an international m9ye and valuable to academic institutions considering new revenue streams, such as opening a new campus in an emerging country like the United Arab Emirates. Understanding the underlying motivations of those academics accepting these new positions will ensure that the institution can be better prepared to ensure the investment in human capital is well rewarded.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between the cross-cultural adjustment of the expatriate spouse and their level of subjective well-being. Demographic factors were considered to identify life domains that may affect cross-cultural adjustment and subjective well-being respectively. The Spousal Adjustment Scale, Scale of Positive and Negative Experience, Satisfaction with life scale, and Flourishing scale were used in the study. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used, and a purposive sample which consisted of expatriate spouses currently residing in Germany was approached (N=156). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied. The results yielded a statistically significant correlation between cross-cultural adjustment and subjective well-being of expatriate spouses and indicated statistically significant differences between demographic groups including language proficiency, dependents, time spent in host country, nationality, career sacrifice, and support network. It was concluded that there is a positive relationship between the cross-cultural adjustment of the expatriate spouse and their well-being and that various demographic factors can influence both constructs. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between the cross-cultural adjustment of the expatriate spouse and their level of subjective well-being. Demographic factors were considered to identify life domains that may affect cross-cultural adjustment and subjective well-being respectively. The Spousal Adjustment Scale, Scale of Positive and Negative Experience, Satisfaction with life scale, and Flourishing scale were used in the study. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was used, and a purposive sample which consisted of expatriate spouses currently residing in Germany was approached (N=156). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied. The results yielded a statistically significant correlation between cross-cultural adjustment and subjective well-being of expatriate spouses and indicated statistically significant differences between demographic groups including language proficiency, dependents, time spent in host country, nationality, career sacrifice, and support network. It was concluded that there is a positive relationship between the cross-cultural adjustment of the expatriate spouse and their well-being and that various demographic factors can influence both constructs. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)