Being and becoming third-space professionals: a case study from low-and-middle income countries

This case study explores the authors’ experiences of establishing the identity of third-space professionals at a multi-country university with campuses on three continents. In particular, it draws on their identities and experiences as female leaders in educational development. Using autoethnograph...

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Main Authors: Azra Naseem, Jannat Karim Khan, Tashmin Khamis, Jane Rarieya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE) 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1233
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author Azra Naseem
Jannat Karim Khan
Tashmin Khamis
Jane Rarieya
author_facet Azra Naseem
Jannat Karim Khan
Tashmin Khamis
Jane Rarieya
author_sort Azra Naseem
collection DOAJ
description This case study explores the authors’ experiences of establishing the identity of third-space professionals at a multi-country university with campuses on three continents. In particular, it draws on their identities and experiences as female leaders in educational development. Using autoethnography, the authors reflect on their experiences to identify issues, strategies, and areas for further development regarding third-space professionals’ identities, particularly with regard to women. As the concept of third-space professionals is relatively new in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) where the university is located, this journey of becoming and being third-space professionals was fraught with challenges that question traditional norms within academia and their culture, requiring innovative problem-solving, continuous learning and accountability. Establishing this new identity involved extensive negotiations to create a new professional stream, gaining recognition from university leaders, and advocating for career pathways. Recognising the demands on third-space women leaders in our contexts, the case study also underscores the importance of workplace structures that support those who work in this critical area. The insights gained may be helpful to others seeking to establish third-space professionals in their professional contexts.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1759-667X
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE)
record_format Article
series Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
spelling doaj-art-d037b278b04944f9b693cae5cd2c2c382025-01-31T07:56:40ZengAssociation for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE)Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education1759-667X2025-01-013310.47408/jldhe.vi33.1233Being and becoming third-space professionals: a case study from low-and-middle income countriesAzra Naseem0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8020-5599Jannat Karim Khan1https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4064-8939Tashmin Khamis2Jane Rarieya 3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9544-3987Aga Khan UniversityAga Khan UniversityAga Khan UniversityAga Khan University This case study explores the authors’ experiences of establishing the identity of third-space professionals at a multi-country university with campuses on three continents. In particular, it draws on their identities and experiences as female leaders in educational development. Using autoethnography, the authors reflect on their experiences to identify issues, strategies, and areas for further development regarding third-space professionals’ identities, particularly with regard to women. As the concept of third-space professionals is relatively new in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) where the university is located, this journey of becoming and being third-space professionals was fraught with challenges that question traditional norms within academia and their culture, requiring innovative problem-solving, continuous learning and accountability. Establishing this new identity involved extensive negotiations to create a new professional stream, gaining recognition from university leaders, and advocating for career pathways. Recognising the demands on third-space women leaders in our contexts, the case study also underscores the importance of workplace structures that support those who work in this critical area. The insights gained may be helpful to others seeking to establish third-space professionals in their professional contexts. https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1233third-space professionalslow- and middle-income countriesleadershipautoethnographyCOVID-19women
spellingShingle Azra Naseem
Jannat Karim Khan
Tashmin Khamis
Jane Rarieya
Being and becoming third-space professionals: a case study from low-and-middle income countries
Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
third-space professionals
low- and middle-income countries
leadership
autoethnography
COVID-19
women
title Being and becoming third-space professionals: a case study from low-and-middle income countries
title_full Being and becoming third-space professionals: a case study from low-and-middle income countries
title_fullStr Being and becoming third-space professionals: a case study from low-and-middle income countries
title_full_unstemmed Being and becoming third-space professionals: a case study from low-and-middle income countries
title_short Being and becoming third-space professionals: a case study from low-and-middle income countries
title_sort being and becoming third space professionals a case study from low and middle income countries
topic third-space professionals
low- and middle-income countries
leadership
autoethnography
COVID-19
women
url https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1233
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AT jannatkarimkhan beingandbecomingthirdspaceprofessionalsacasestudyfromlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT tashminkhamis beingandbecomingthirdspaceprofessionalsacasestudyfromlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT janerarieya beingandbecomingthirdspaceprofessionalsacasestudyfromlowandmiddleincomecountries