scholarly journals Linguistic aspects in intercultural communication (IC) practices at a higher education institution in Indonesia

XLinguae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-91
Author(s):  
Sukardi Weda ◽  
Haryanto Atmowardoyo ◽  
Fathu Rahman ◽  
Andi Elsa Fadhilah Sakti

This study aimed to investigate intercultural communication practice in higher education in Indonesia. Participants (N = 77) were graduate students from the English Education Study Program, State University of Makassar (Males = 16 (20.78%) and females = 61 (79.22%)). The participants ranged in age from 21 to 50. The study found that cultural diversity is important in the EFL classroom, and the students respect other students from different cultures and linguistic backgrounds. The students also claim that intercultural communication is a basic aspect of teaching English in the EFL classroom. Interestingly, intercultural communication can be established properly if all students from different cultural backgrounds respect each other. They feel closer to their classmates regardless of their cultural identity. They find it easy to interact with other students from different cultures and linguistic backgrounds. In classroom discussions, the participants did not look at the cultural background of the group participants.

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Ekaterine Gulua

The work is dedicated to analyzing the management challenges of higher education institutions, which are discussed from two different angles: the management process and its supporting - ergonomic and infrastructural issues. The work is accomplished under the auspices of the Human Potential Management Laboratory at Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. The present work is a continuation of the previous research items, which were devoted to studying the perceptions of university challenges. The work is based on the qualitative analysis of the Georgian higher education system and Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University management mechanisms, also the research analysis on the attitude towards the current challenges of TSU Economics and Business Faculty students and the academic personnel. 62% of the total composition of the academic personnel participated in the surve. The questionnaire included 48 closed and two open questions. The data was developed in the program "SPSS-Statistics”. Preliminary hypotheses have been verified by statistical methods. Person correlation test, the Chi-square tests and linear regression, namely the ANOVA test are used to analyse the results. The analysis of the challenges based on the qualitative and quantitative research became the basis of searching ways to improve the management strategy of higher educational institutions. The challenges identified in the work and the suggested recommendations will help the stakeholders interested in the issue/field.


Author(s):  
Emıne Nılufer Pembecıoglu ◽  
Hatıce Irmaklı

The society we live in and the culture we're surrounded by all have an impact on our decision-making processes requiring that media literacy skills start flourishing during the early years. Globalization changed the dynamics of the world and society by removing any limitations of time and space. Thus, different cultures and values encounter one another, which is why media literacy and intercultural awareness are becoming the key skills in today's world. This chapter aims to analyze the stages, reasons, and the choices of the decision-making process of individuals from different cultural backgrounds in an intercultural communication setting where they were given certain problems for which they were expected to find solutions in a limited amount of time. The chapter mainly discusses the notion of “tolerance” and “judgement”: how one positions her/himself in an intercultural environment and how s/he approaches a problem with the awareness of cultural differences.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 506-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bassmah B. AlTaher

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze how Intercultural Communication is a necessary course for students to learn how to communicate in a healthy, tolerant and respectful manner when pursuing higher education, for miscommunication can result from ethnocentric behavior when dealing with people from various cultural backgrounds. Design/methodology/approach A survey method of research was adopted and questionnaires were administered to two sets of students: those who have taken Intercultural Communications and those who have not. A total of 192 valid responses from students were received from the School of Basic Sciences and Humanities, German Jordanian University. The first survey falls under the nominal analysis of a dichotomous questionnaire, and the results were measured with Cronbach’s α to test the reliability of the its consistency. The second questionnaire’s items were uni-dimensional, and so the Guttman chart was used to conduct students’ comprehension of global communication. Findings The results of this study have shown that the first questionnaire has a strong consistency (0.86); students have successfully understood the dynamics of cross-cultural communication, and used that knowledge to aid and prepare them for future careers. As for students who have not taken IC, they have answered the second questionnaire with great confidence in the first category of personal expectations, but fluctuated in their answers when answering the category of self-development and cultural appreciation. ZPD1 and ZPD2 have proven that students need their teacher to learn new knowledge and insights which they can gain from an IC course. Research limitations/implications Apart from the valuable contributions of the study, this study is performed at one public university, and the students, despite their diverse cultural backgrounds and majors, restrict the findings of this research from generalizing the results. Hence, future studies in this area are deeply encouraged, especially when comparing between private and public universities, and how IC is interrelated to other courses in the humanities; moreover, IC as an academic course can bridge the gap between student–teacher relationships. Originality/value The scarcity of a diverse course that teaches intercultural skills in communication has become a growing necessity in this day and age, especially in the Middle East and particularly in Jordan. Due to globalization and informatization, Jordanian students are constantly exposed to cultural and religious differences, and to have them engage in a healthy, well-respected conversation is the core aim of this paper, for tolerance and understanding are constantly on high demand. Students learn these skills in IC, and this course reflects how essential a course like this can play a great role in a student’s development.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-94
Author(s):  
Alyona Nakonechna

AbstractThe article deals with studying the peculiarities in the organization of future translators’ self-directed learning at US universities. It has been stated that various researches on the problem prove the underestimation of self-directed learning that leads to insufficient professional competency of future translators. It has been found out that to create an environment favourable for self-directed learning educators should consider four factors, namely, autonomy and responsibility, complexity, duration, “voice and choice”. It has been indicated that the system of independent learning and teaching consists of three components – teacher, learner and communication method. The traits of autonomous learners have been listed. The functions of self-directed learning in US higher education institution have been presented. Six ways of supporting autonomy, namely, classroom-based, curriculum-based, teacher-based, learner-based, resource-based, technology-based, have been singled out and analyzed. The experience of the Kent State University in training future Masters of Arts in Translation has been analyzed. Based on the research performed, the positive aspects of the experience have been justified and relevant recommendations to improve the organization of future translators’ self-directed learning in Ukrainian higher education institutions have been outlined.


Author(s):  
Jan Bamford ◽  
Lucie Pollard

This paper addresses evidence that developing a sense of belonging for students from different ethnic groups impacts on their engagement. It notes previous findings that in universities habits of coexistence may present barriers to the development of relationships and the sense of student belonging. The paper proposes that cosmopolitan engagement offers a frame for considering the experience of cultural difference in the classroom. It stresses the importance of relationality and communication. The research, involving students undertaking business and science programmes in two culturally similar universities, has sought to develop a better understanding of how students in London engage with higher education, with their learning and with cultural others, and the impact on their learning of differing communication patterns. The study finds that students often feel distant from their tutors and afraid to ask for further explanation. Instead, they rely on a circle of friends to provide support and clarification. Students have identified the development of agency through engaging with others from different cultures. Engagement in practical collective tasks such as forensic lab work seems to have the potential to encourage communication across cultures, but observation have suggested that students tend to self-segregate. The article concludes that there cannot be a presumption of cosmopolitan engagement. Rather universities need to develop strategies for improving communication between students and staff and between students of different cultural backgrounds.


2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 234-256
Author(s):  
Parisa Badrkhani

There are large number of students from around the world who are planning to continue their education in the U.S. universities. They have different nationalities, cultural backgrounds, social beliefs, and so on. Moreover, the educators who are from different countries have the special cultures. This is their task to manage the culturally diverse classrooms to obtain the best results for the educational purposes. In this study, the focus was on three main issues: (a) teaching in multicultural higher education, (b) students’ attitudes toward the different cultures (especially their classmates), and (c) the strategies the educators apply in the multicultural classroom to establish peace. Five Iranian faculties who were teaching English language literature subject, in California State universities, were selected and interviewed via Skype. The results showed that they had a very positive attitude toward teaching in multicultural classrooms. The educators claimed that they apply the emotional empathy, empathy training, culturally proportional curriculum, and the structured rules for the multicultural classroom. One of them argued that holding conferences regarding the diversity is very useful, and the other one proposed that holding involuntary service, sport, and community programs for both the immigrant and the local students is considerable to make the students closer and establish the sense of peace among them.


COMMICAST ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
Indah Wahyuni ◽  
Akhyar Anshori

Some time ago, Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud) Nadiem Makarim launched a program called "Merdeka Learning" aimed at Universities / Colleges which is also known as the Independent Campus. The discourse conveyed by the Minister of Education and Culture regarding the Merdeka Campus has four policies in the scope of higher education, namely (1) Opening of new study programs, in which this program provides autonomy for State (PTN) and Private Universities (PTS) to open or establish new study programs, (2) Higher education accreditation system, (3) Freedom for PTN Public Service Agency (BLU) and Work Unit (Satker) to become PTN Legal Entity (PTN BH), (4) Right for students to take courses outside the study program and changing the definition of the Semester Credit System (SKS). The purpose of this study was to determine how the Medan State University Student Response to the Discourse of the Merdeka Campus. The data collection technique used in this study used several methods including literature study, observation, interviews, and documentation. This data analysis technique uses a qualitative descriptive method which is used to describe a situation that is currently running at the time the research is carried out and examines the causes of a particular symptom, then analyzed by conducting a conceptual examination of a statement so that the clarity of the meaning contained in the statement can be obtained. the. Where all the speakers know the discourse on an independent campus that has been conveyed by the Minister of Education and Culture some time ago, but from the results of the interviews conducted in more depth, five people only approved and three people did not approve of the independent campus. 


Author(s):  
Katri-Liis Lepik ◽  
Audronė Urmanavičienė

AbstractThe purpose of this chapter is to introduce a higher education social enterprise program and explore how it is shaping the field of social entrepreneurship. Social enterprise related university programs are an emerging trend. Entrepreneurial university theory and ecosystem framework are used to illustrate how the university social enterprise program, in turn, develops the field of social entrepreneurship. An example of an existing social enterprise program is discussed to highlight how it can be designed. Cases of social enterprises emerged as the result of the program are used to outline the different impacts that such support to social entrepreneurship might have. The research chapter reveals the multi-dimensional nature of the social enterprise program and its impact on students establishing their own social enterprises. It suggests that the incubation and other support activities should expand beyond the university program including a variety of network partners. The chapter provides empirical evidence of social enterprise development in a higher education institution and contributes to the global body of knowledge about fostering social enterprise development. As the provision of social entrepreneurship education is new in Estonia and the discussions on social enterprises are premature, the number of social entrepreneurship development partners is limited and hence the empirical data is currently scarce. The journey towards an entrepreneurial university is limited due to the lack of legal support and suitable infrastructure which would enhance project-based learning, support ‘spin-offs’ and patenting and rather engenders a more traditional academic learning environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yos Johan Utama ◽  
Ambariyanto Ambariyanto

As a higher education institution with a vision to become a research university, programs and activities related to research are Universitas Diponegoro main concern. Research is one of the three main pillars of higher education in Indonesia, apart from education and community service. Besides that, as a state university, its development is also influenced by central government policies. Currently, Undip is a state university with legal status and has wide autonomy. This paper explains research programs, activities and challenges that still need to be addressed in the future. To increase research capacity at Diponegoro University, there are five main programs, namely: 1. Increasing the capacity of human resources; 2. Improvement of facilities and supporting facilities; 3. Increasing the availability of research funds, 4. Collaboration and 5. Creating a conducive environment to research development at universities. Based on the application of the five programs, there has been a substantial increase in a research capacity, especially when viewed from indicators of international scientific publications, and an increase in the number of patents obtained. But there are still many challenges that need to be overcome, including the increase in the citation of published papers and the utilization of patent by industries.


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