Between Worlds: Indonesian Returnees’ Reintegration Challenges and Their Implications for Culturally Responsive, AI-Mediated English Language Education (A Case Study)

The reintegration of returning scholars into Indonesian higher education is a complex process shaped by institutional structures as much as by individual resilience. This qualitative case study aimed to explore how two lecturers who had completed overseas study experienced reintegration in three areas: digital transformation and AI-related practices, intercultural and professional adaptation, and intellectual continuity. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and were analysed thematically to capture challenges and coping strategies. The findings show that although digital platforms and AI tools were available, they were often perceived as administrative burdens without institutional incentives. Differing expectations of communication and collegiality hindered professional reintegration, while intellectual continuity was threatened by limited access to resources and a research culture driven by administrative rather than developmental priorities. These experiences are interpreted through Berry’s acculturation theory, Oberg’s culture shock, and Byram’s intercultural communicative competence and compared with earlier re-entry studies. The study concludes that while selective integration and adaptive strategies help sustain returnees’ practices, institutional reinforcement is essential to transform international exposure into long-term academic development.