Abstract
This paper presents a comparative study on the reintegration experiences of internationally educated doctoral degree holders returning to their home countries. Using Structuration Theory, it explores how returnees are shaped by, yet also shape, their research environments. Data were collected via qualitative semi-structured interviews in Kazakhstan, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Findings reveal common challenges and strategies, as well as unique reintegration issues and opportunities across the three contexts. A key insight is that the experiences of returning scholars are significantly influenced by neo-colonial structures in academia, which affect the scholars’ ability to adapt to and transform their research environments.