Intercultural Competence of University Students in Navigating Their Academic, Social, and Ethnic Cultural Transitions

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Intercultural Competence of University Students in Navigating Their Academic, Social, and Ethnic Cultural Transitions
Language: English
Authors: Hang, Yang (ORCID 0000-0001-8552-7925), Zhang, Xiaojun
Source: Journal of Further and Higher Education. 2023 47(8):1027-1041.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2023
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Intercultural Communication, Cultural Awareness, Student Adjustment, Undergraduate Students, Interpersonal Communication, Educational Environment, Foreign Countries, Student Attitudes
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.1080/0309877X.2023.2214790
ISSN: 0309-877X
1469-9486
Abstract: Students' transition from high school to university is a journey from a simple world to a complex one, with academic, social, and ethnic cultural transitions simultaneously occurring. Intercultural competence (IC) plays a crucial role in facilitating these cultural transitions. The aim of the study is to explore how university students undergo academic, social, and ethnic cultural transitions, along with determining what IC dimensions university students develop to have smooth academic, social, and ethnic cultural transitions. We adopted the constructivist grounded theory approach to gather and code interview data from 55 undergraduate students. Moreover, we conceptualised the five dimensions of students' IC in managing the complex transition by combining a person-environmental interactive perspective. This was constructed with the widely acknowledged interpersonal communication perspective of IC. We found that students need to navigate multiple cultural transitions in different aspects and processes, and that IC plays an important role in easing them. The study results indicate that students should improve their IC from five aspects to facilitate their academic, social, and ethnic cultural transitions. Further, they must continuously introspect on themselves and the external world to nurture critical thinking in their academic and sociocultural life.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2023
Accession Number: EJ1398464
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Students' transition from high school to university is a journey from a simple world to a complex one, with academic, social, and ethnic cultural transitions simultaneously occurring. Intercultural competence (IC) plays a crucial role in facilitating these cultural transitions. The aim of the study is to explore how university students undergo academic, social, and ethnic cultural transitions, along with determining what IC dimensions university students develop to have smooth academic, social, and ethnic cultural transitions. We adopted the constructivist grounded theory approach to gather and code interview data from 55 undergraduate students. Moreover, we conceptualised the five dimensions of students' IC in managing the complex transition by combining a person-environmental interactive perspective. This was constructed with the widely acknowledged interpersonal communication perspective of IC. We found that students need to navigate multiple cultural transitions in different aspects and processes, and that IC plays an important role in easing them. The study results indicate that students should improve their IC from five aspects to facilitate their academic, social, and ethnic cultural transitions. Further, they must continuously introspect on themselves and the external world to nurture critical thinking in their academic and sociocultural life.
ISSN:0309-877X
1469-9486
DOI:10.1080/0309877X.2023.2214790