Developing Students' Intercultural Competence

Patrick ZOU, Liz Shek-Noble

    Research output: A Conference proceeding or a Chapter in BookConference contributionpeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    Abstract

    This paper explores the efficacy of online e-learning environments for developing students' intercultural competence (IC) in the context of Australian higher education. It begins by defining the key attributes and prescriptors of IC, and argues that Taylor's theory of perspective transformation (Adult Educ Quart 44:154-174, Int J Intercult Rel 18(30):389-408) is the most plausible explanation for why and how people become interculturally competent. E-learning is put forward as a platform for developing students' IC, due to its interactive and multimodal approach to learning. Last, the paper outlines several strategies for developing students' IC in an e-learning context. We recommend a bi-directional approach whereby students and lecturers work to become more knowledgeable and flexible towards other cultures. The findings of this paper will contribute to existing literature on IC by demonstrating how online e-learning environments can help to develop positive attributes of flexibility, curiosity, openness and acceptance of diversity in students. Although the paper uses Australian higher education as its example, the findings should be applicable to higher education in a global arena.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of the 17th International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate
    EditorsJ Wang, Z Ding, L Zou, J Zuo
    Place of PublicationGermany
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages1047-1056
    Number of pages10
    Edition1
    ISBN (Print)9783642355479
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2014
    EventCRIOCM 2012 International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate - Shenshen, China
    Duration: 17 Nov 201218 Nov 2012

    Publication series

    NameProceedings of the 17th International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate

    Conference

    ConferenceCRIOCM 2012 International Symposium on Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate
    Country/TerritoryChina
    CityShenshen
    Period17/11/1218/11/12

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