Towards intercultural competence: Using consensus to identify essential personality traits for an inclusive extension education workforce

The rapid diversification of workforces and client stakeholder groups has prompted a growing emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion as a critical component of professional development across industry sectors. While the proliferation of intercultural competence training models has increased awareness among employers and workforces, the competencies advocated in these models may not always be relevant to an organization or institution’s operational context. This study addresses the need for contextually grounded intercultural competency models targeted to extension education contexts. Using a three-phased Delphi approach, data were gathered from a panel of 36 intercultural competency experts. The panel identified nine personal traits thought to be critical for the recruitment and development of culturally competent extension educators. The authors explain how these results may be used to recruit extension educators with traits conducive to engagement with a broad audience of stakeholders using culturally sensitive and responsive techniques. Given the distinct processes by which different components of intercultural competence are developed, we recommend specific measures and techniques administrators can utilize to recruit and develop extension educators who possess the agreed-upon intercultural personality traits.

INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE AS A PART OF READYNESS OF FUTURE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS FOR INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

The article is devoted to the study of the formation of intercultural competence of future specialists in the field of “Information Technology”, taking into account current trends in education in the context of globalization and strengthening intercultural ties. Various aspects of intercultural competence are considered. The relevance of the study of the problem of formation of intercultural competence of future specialists in the field of “Information Technology” in connection with the growing level of public demand for such specialists is emphasized. The essence of the debatable concepts “competence” and “competency” is specified. Keywords: intercultural competence; intercultural competency; readiness for intercultural communication; future specialists; competences; information technologies; personality; foreign languages; education.

Teaching intercultural competence: Dialogue, cognition and position in Luke 10:25–37

This research aimed to know the intercultural competency teaching model of Jesus (Teacher) using a parable technique based on Luke 10:25–37 to improve intercultural competence. The authors used a method of diacognitive analysis with three lenses that include dialogue, cognition and position. The results of the study have shown that the application of the parable technique can improve the competence of intercultural students (the expert in the law) towards people with different cultures (Samaritan), as well as increase the understanding and awareness that love is the basis of intercultural competence, compassion as an internal outcome and must act as an intercultural agent. The teacher’s pyramid model of intercultural competence moves from love, attitude, knowledge, skill, internal outcome, external outcome and becomes an intercultural agent.Contribution: Research on Luke 10:25–37 has shown that the parable technique can improve students’ intercultural competence based on love and compassion. Teachers can apply parable techniques to attract, encourage, and stimulate the student’s active involvement to think critically and perform interpretations to discover the real truth in the context of cultural differences.

Intercultural communication as the basis for effective teaching of foreign languages

The article examines the role and importance of intercultural communication in the process of learning a foreign language at university. Intercultural interaction is viewed as a source of formation and development of professional and personal qualities of students, intercultural competency and interethnic tolerance, as a means of overcoming communication difficulties in situations of foreign language communication. In modern society, in the context of digitalisation, the development of informational and social networks, with the introduction of distance education, intercultural foreign language communication is considered an indispensable part of life and learning. It is characterised by an intensive exchange of information, values and experience, by networking and maintaining contacts, and developing cooperation. Intercultural dialogue allows students to expand their knowledge of cultural characteristics, traditions, etiquette and customs of people living in different countries; to understand and accept the linguistic and cultural diversity of communication partners; to improve their skills and abilities; to use language and speech means, choose strategies and tactics of behaviour and communication in order to achieve mutual understanding and goals following the communicative task and communicative situation. Reliance on intercultural communication in the process of learning foreign languages contributes to the interiorisation of new knowledge, the development of social activity, creativity and mobility of students, increases the motivation to learn a foreign language, inspires the use of new interesting psychological and pedagogic forms in studies and work, allowing effective interaction in a multicultural environment.

ETHNIC IDENTITY AS A BASIS FOR STUDENTS’ INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCY FORMATION

The article considers the relevant and urgent issue of formation and development of ethnic identity of agricultural students as a framework for the development of intercultural competency. It is an essential and key competence in a modern world. Ethnic identity developing in childhood and youth maintains its stability lifelong and it is a key factor determining one’s emotional state. During the intercultural communication the manifestations of “our” and “other” ethnocentrism may result in aggression, frustration and depression. Ethnic and cultural identity management as a significant component of developed intercultural competency gives the opportunity to avoid undesirable negative consequences. Ethnic identity can be developed in the process of intercultural foreign languages teaching in higher education on the basis of methodological principles of the personal and activity approach, contextual education, the competency-based approach. The formation of positive ethnic and cultural identity starts with the perception of specific and particular features of native culture which is problematic as people become accustomed to accept values, customs and traditions of their own culture as something firm and permanent, as a matter of course. In this regard, the syllabus should contain ethnic and cultural knowledge and skills, the skill to see a situation from different perspectives on the base of understanding the relativity of ethnic and cultural events, the skill to govern one’s own emotional state. In this case the self-analysis, empathy and reflection become the psychological mechanism of stereotypes transformation, the realization of habitual ethnic and cultural preconceptions, and the acceptance of cultural diversity as a standard.

USING GLOBAL VIRTUAL TEAMS TO SUPPORT A SUSTAINABILITY MINDSET IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION

In an increasingly interconnected economy, future engineers require a sustainability mindset, which necessitates a global perspective, to enable them to work together with diverse partners to tackle the world’s problems in a sustainable manner. This study explores engineering students’ development of intercultural competencies within the context of culturally diverse global virtual team projects. We report on two consecutive iterations of an Intercultural Competency Module (ICM) delivered within a global virtual team project setting, in which engineering students are engaged in collaborative technical projects. Each study iteration comprised of a presurveyto gain insights into student’s prior knowledge and cultural background and a post-survey to determine students’ perceptions of their intercultural learning and experiences. Employing a mixed-methods approach, we found that blending ICM with global virtual team projects was a successful approach for helping engineering students acquire international experience and develop intercultural competencies in addition to technical engineering knowledge.

USING GLOBAL VIRTUAL TEAMS TO SUPPORT A SUSTAINABILITY MINDSET IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION

In an increasingly interconnected economy, future engineers require a sustainability mindset, whichnecessitates a global perspective, to enable them to work together with diverse partners to tackle the world’s problems in a sustainable manner. This study explores engineering students’ development of intercultural competencies within the context of culturally diverse global virtual team projects. We report on two consecutive iterations of an Intercultural Competency Module (ICM) delivered within a global virtual team project setting, in which engineering students are engaged in collaborative technical projects. Each study iteration comprised of a presurvey to gain insights into student’s prior knowledge and cultural background and a post-survey to determinestudents’ perceptions of their intercultural learning and experiences. Employing a mixed-methods approach, we found that blending ICM with global virtual team projects was a successful approach for helping engineering students acquire international experience and developintercultural competencies in addition to technical engineering knowledge.

Buddhist Healthcare in Philadelphia: An Ethnographic Experiment in Student-Centered, Engaged, and Inclusive Pedagogy

This essay describes the Jivaka Project, a pedagogical experiment undertaken at a public liberal arts college outside of Philadelphia. A multi-year ethnographic survey of Buddhist healthcare in the greater metropolitan area, this project has come to constitute a major part of my general education course on American Buddhism. As I argue, this project serves as a model for student-centered, engaged, and inclusive approaches to pedagogy. It is particularly notable for centering the intercultural competency of international and first-generation Asian American students. I discuss how this project was inspired by a bilingual Chinese American student; how it developed into a large-scale effort involving about a hundred students in ethnographic research in Philadelphia’s Asian American neighborhoods; how it was a transformational educational experience for a diverse group of participating students; and how in the process it pushed my pedagogy in a more relevant and personally fulfilling direction.