TY - JOUR
T1 - Developing intercultural competence and global citizenship through international experiences
T2 - Academics' perceptions
AU - Trede, Franziska
AU - Bowles, Wendy
AU - Bridges, Donna
N1 - Imported on 12 Apr 2017 - DigiTool details were: month (773h) = October, 2013; Journal title (773t) = Intercultural Education. ISSNs: 1467-5986;
PY - 2013/10
Y1 - 2013/10
N2 - International education is a key priority for Australian universities, government and employer groups. For students, an international professional experience is uniquely placed in providing opportunities for developing intercultural learning,intercultural competence and global citizenship. Employers see graduates with international experiences as interculturally competent, viewing them as proficient in analysing and responding appropriately to culturally significant values andperceptions. This research seeks to understand how students are prepared for international experiences and how intercultural learning is integrated into course programmes. Academic staff responsible for international experiences wereinterviewed in one-on-one qualitative interviews about their practices and perceptions of preparing students for these experiences. Although all international programmes were procedurally well planned, we found that most participantsdid not include intercultural pedagogies into their programmes, nor did they purposefully seek to develop intercultural competence and global citizenship in their students. Professional development opportunities need to be created foracademics to rethink their pedagogical intent regarding international experiences. Immersion in culture is not, on its own, an assurance of intercultural learning. Providing international experiences without a pedagogical framework that helpsstudents to reflect on self and others can be a wasted opportunity and runs the risk of reinforcing stereotypical thinking and racist attitudes.
AB - International education is a key priority for Australian universities, government and employer groups. For students, an international professional experience is uniquely placed in providing opportunities for developing intercultural learning,intercultural competence and global citizenship. Employers see graduates with international experiences as interculturally competent, viewing them as proficient in analysing and responding appropriately to culturally significant values andperceptions. This research seeks to understand how students are prepared for international experiences and how intercultural learning is integrated into course programmes. Academic staff responsible for international experiences wereinterviewed in one-on-one qualitative interviews about their practices and perceptions of preparing students for these experiences. Although all international programmes were procedurally well planned, we found that most participantsdid not include intercultural pedagogies into their programmes, nor did they purposefully seek to develop intercultural competence and global citizenship in their students. Professional development opportunities need to be created foracademics to rethink their pedagogical intent regarding international experiences. Immersion in culture is not, on its own, an assurance of intercultural learning. Providing international experiences without a pedagogical framework that helpsstudents to reflect on self and others can be a wasted opportunity and runs the risk of reinforcing stereotypical thinking and racist attitudes.
KW - Global citizenship
KW - Intercultural competence
KW - Intercultural learning
KW - Pedagogy
KW - Professional experience
U2 - 10.1080/14675986.2013.825578
DO - 10.1080/14675986.2013.825578
M3 - Article
SN - 1467-5986
VL - 24
SP - 442
EP - 445
JO - Intercultural Education
JF - Intercultural Education
IS - 5
ER -