Intercultural communication competence: A study about the intercultural sensitivity of university students based on their education and international experiences [2009]

Abstract

Today nations are not only transferring goods and services but also people, knowledge, technology, business and even cultures among each other. These triggers of globalization add new concepts to the literature of various disciplines one of which is intercultural communication competence (ICC). Universities develop international programs to support these outcomes and it is required to evaluate the success of these efforts. This study aims to analyze the intercultural sensitivity levels of university students and the contribution of education and intercultural experience on the formation of ICC. Students from two different universities and disciplines have constructed the sample of the study and a survey was conducted to identify the effects of demographics, education, personal traits and intercultural experience comparatively on the level of intercultural sensitivity. The study has revealed that students' respect for different cultures improve with the level of engagement in international interactions.