Leveraging Interdisciplinary Collaboration to Improve Technology Dependency and Intercultural Competencies

In this chapter, the authors discussed the use of virtual exchange (VE) courses in a global context to prepare college students, including journalism students and pre-service teachers, for technology dependency and intercultural competencies through the faculty-librarian-instructional designer collaboration. They shared the pedagogical and technological issues encountered when implementing the VE courses with their international partner professors and described their journey of an ongoing process of collaboration and problem solving prior to and during the pandemic. Concrete examples were provided to demonstrate how they used VE to produce meaningful student learning outcomes and to expand accessible international education. The authors also discussed future research and further implementation of the VE courses.

Key competencies in the labour market from the perspective of higher education students

The subject of key competencies in the labour market has been discussed in many publications and reports in recent years, presenting the point of view of researchers and employers on the issue. However, the perspective of future employees also seems to be worth discussing; hence this research covers university students currently entering the labour market. Ten competencies identified as key in the labour market are examined: problem-solving, creativity and innovation, analytical and critical thinking, active learning and teaching, interdisciplinarity, emotional intelligence, social intelligence, intercultural competencies, virtual cooperation, digital competency. The study aimed to determine the respondents’ opinions and beliefs about selected key competencies on the labour market, their willingness to develop them, and their declared level of these competencies. The survey was carried out using the quantitative method, using the CAWI technique, on a sample of 352 respondents – students of the University of Lodz. The results indicate that the students mostly share the view that the competencies indicated as being key will be expected by employers in the labour market in the next five years. Moreover, for most of the competencies being studied, they assess their current level to be high and see the need to develop them for professional purposes. Discrepancies are also indicated between the students’ self-assessment of their competencies and their employers’ assessment.

Diversity in the teachers’ lounge in Germany – casting doubt on the statistical category of ‘migration background’

Teachers with so-called migration backgrounds are often assumed to possess higher intercultural competencies or skills for more adequately dealing with migration-related diversity than other teachers. However, these assumptions of higher intercultural competencies, specific pedagogical orientations and attitudes have rarely been systematically empirically examined. On the other hand, such a utilitarian ethnicization is increasingly criticized by migration researchers in educational science in Germany as furthering stigmatization and deprofessionalization. Against this background, our paper aims to contribute to the lively discourse about teacher with so-called migration backgrounds. We start with analysing teacher data from the German National Education Panel Study (NEPS). Our analyses indicate that teachers with and without so-called migration backgrounds do not differ significantly in most respects. These findings led us to methodological considerations with regard to the (non-)usefulness of the statistical category of ‘migration background’ in educational migration research.

Preparing Business Students for the World of Work—Games for Intercultural Skill Development

Most work environments today are diverse—gender, age, culture, language, values, ethnicity. Businesses are also increasing their global presence with branches in international locations and daily interactions across countries and cultures, all made easier through technological advances. Business education must be at the forefront in preparing students to work effectively in these contexts, and in particular, help future managers develop the skills to establish high performing diverse teams within and across organizations. A number of pedagogical approaches can be implemented in business courses to help students develop intercultural competencies. Three games for engaging students in the recognition and appreciation of cultural differences are described in this article. Ideas for debriefing are provided as well as for analyzing learning outcomes. The purpose of this article is to share strategies and approaches for implementing intercultural development pedagogies and measuring their effectiveness.

Competencias interculturales y competencias emocionales en los estudiantes de ciencias sociales y turismo de la Universidad Nacional José Faustino Sánchez Carrión

La investigación tuvo como objetivo general determinar la relación entre las competencias interculturales y las competencias emocionales de los estudiantes de ciencias sociales y turismo de la facultad de educación de la universidad nacional José Faustino Sánchez Carrión. Se realizó un muestreo censal que abarco 176 estudiantes. Se recogieron los datos para la primera variable con el cuestionario de competencias interculturales del centro de estudios interculturales UNED- España, con ligeras adaptaciones; para la segunda variable se utilizó el cuestionario sobre competencias emocionales de Daniel Goleman. Por protocolo se hizo una prueba de confiabilidad alfa cronbach a ambos instrumentos obteniendo valores de 0.937 y 0.917 respectivamente, que representan una alta confiabilidad. La correlación entre las variables fue medida por el coeficiente de correlación de rangos de Spearman. Para la correlación entre competencias interculturales y competencias emocionales se obtuvo un coeficiente de 0.578 refleja una relación moderada entre ambas variables. Para las correlaciones entre competencias interculturales con: autoconciencia; autorregulación; motivación se obtuvieron los coeficientes 0.298; 0.456; 496 respectivamente. En estos tres casis son correlaciones débiles. La correlación entre competencias interculturales con: empatía; habilidades sociales se obtuvieron los siguientes coeficientes0.521 y 0.548 respectivamente. En ambos casos son correlaciones moderadas. Estas correlaciones débiles y moderadas con 00 de error nos indican que existe una relación entre ambas variables. The overall objective research was to determine the relationship between intercultural skills and emotional skills of students in the social sciences and tourism education faculty of National University José Faustino Sánchez Carrión. One census sampling spanned 176 students was conducted. Data for the first variable with the questionnaire intercultural competence center for intercultural studies UNED Spain, with slight adjustments were collected; for the second variable the questionnaire on emotional competencies Daniel Goleman was used. By protocol was made a Cronbach alpha reliability test both instruments obtaining values of 0.937 and 0.917 respectively, representing high reliability. The correlation between variables was measured by the coefficient of Spearman rank correlation. For the correlation between intercultural skills and emotional competencies a coefficient of 0.578 reflects a moderate relationship between the two variables was obtained. For correlations between intercultural competencies: self-awareness; self-regulation; 0.298 motivation coefficients were obtained; 0.456; 496 respectively. In these three cassis are weak correlations. The correlation between intercultural competencies: empathy; social skills were obtained the following coeficientes0.521 and 0.548 respectively. In both cases are moderate correlations. These weak to moderate correlations with error 00 indicate that there is a relationship between the two variables.

Inter-Cultural Competency in International Locals and their Performance

This paper examines the relationship between intercultural competencies and performance in “international locals”, defined as employees who, albeit not formally appointed to any international position, are regularly exposed to different types of intercultural interactions. From a sample of 258 employees of a multinational company, we selected a sub-group of 94 international locals, and examined the effect of ethnocentrism (ET), cultural intelligence (CQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) on their performance, utilizing multiple regression analysis. The results show that the higher levels of CQ and/or EQ, the better the performance of international locals. Evidence also indicates that EQ interacts with CQ, triggering or enhancing the effect on performance. Finally, ET does not have any effect on the performance of international locals. The research implies that EQ and CQ are essential for performance in international business situations, and that international locals, who are continually exposed to regular intercultural interactions, need to focus on developing these two competencies. By assessing and helping international locals to develop higher EQ and CQ, organizations can ensure that they have enthusiastic and perseverant employees, who enjoy intercultural interactions, and can contribute to develop competitive advantages and capabilities.

Understanding an Importance of Interculturalism in the Learning Process

Authors of this article aimed to research an understanding importance of interculturalism within learning process and beliefs related to intercultural education together with the level of intercultural education implementation in the learning process. Research has been conducted on the pattern of 163 teachers and librarians who participated in the interactive workshop “Enhancing capacities of teachers/trainers for promotion of cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and tolerance through media and information literacy”. This article represents concrete organized effort and an attempt for promoting importance related to development of an adequate intercultural competencies of teachers and librarians that are directly involved in the learning and educational process.