Intercultural competences of students-strategic approaches

Abstract

Intercultural education is a category of the „new education” and a desideratum of the European dimension of education. This study presents the results obtained from a research centred on the training and development of intercultural skills of students of „Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu which are enrolled in various study programmes of the Socio-Human Sciences Faculty. The study was based on the general hypothesis that teaching in higher education in an intercultural context contributes to the formation and development of intercultural skills in students, as well as improving and streamlining the learning process, increasing interest in the cultural characteristics of other peoples. The research method used diagnose the intercultural component of the sociohuman sciences curriculum, was the survey method and the tool used on identifying students’ intercultural competencies was a questionnaire. Intercultural skills of students can be formed by teachers, who in turn have such skills and capitalize them in educational and professional contexts, so that teaching becomes a living laboratory in which democratic values are promoted based on acceptance of otherness, respect for other cultures and the confidence in the potential of every human being. Students with intercultural skills can contribute to the sustainability of a future society since they can integrate socially, culturally professionally without high costs and financial investments.

Formation of students' intercultural competence through foreign films. Review

“…Intercultural competence allows us to find effective solutions to problems in an intercultural context. According to Daniel Mara's study (Daniel Mara, 2021), intercultural competence includes the following components to find effective methods of adaptation in an intercultural environment: cognitive, affective, and behavioral (Table 1).…”

“…The intercultural competence is seen as a relational process that contributes to building active communication to achieve mutually appropriate and effective behavior (Dalib, et.al., 2014). According to the study by Daniel Mara (2021) from the Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu in Romania, more than 85 % of respondents (teaching staff including students) participated in international educational programs where intercultural skills have been trained. Academic exchange programs are a source of the formation of intercultural competence at universities worldwide.…”