Preparing Business Graduates for a Multicultural Workforce
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| Title: | Preparing Business Graduates for a Multicultural Workforce |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Rea Prouska (ORCID |
| Source: | British Educational Research Journal. 2026 52(1):426-458. |
| Availability: | Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 33 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Labor Force, Cultural Pluralism, Business Education, Higher Education, Employment Potential, Intercultural Communication, Cultural Awareness, College Graduates, Curriculum Design, Education Work Relationship, Employer Attitudes, Student Attitudes, Foreign Countries |
| Geographic Terms: | United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, Turkey |
| DOI: | 10.1002/berj.70017 |
| ISSN: | 0141-1926 1469-3518 |
| Abstract: | This research examines how higher education institutions can enhance the employability of business graduates by exploring the supply and demand for intercultural competencies, as perceived by both students and employers across Europe. It addresses two key research gaps: first, whether recent graduates in Europe meet employer expectations regarding intercultural competencies and second, how higher education institutions in Europe--particularly business schools--can improve graduates' employability by designing curricula that align with employer needs. Drawing on a cross-national study that includes 102 student and employer interviews conducted in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden and Turkey, the research seeks to gain insights into the demand and supply of intercultural competencies from both employer and student perspectives. The study identifies seven key intercultural competencies: cultural empathy, cognitive flexibility, conscientiousness, social initiative, emotional stability, open-mindedness and willingness to tolerate ambiguity. It also proposes an eighth critical dimension--digital competencies for intercultural collaboration. These eight dimensions are conceptualised in an 'Intercultural Competencies Framework', which includes three categories of learning activities based on the findings. This framework can assist educators and employers in designing training programmes that enhance intercultural communication and collaboration skills. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1499121 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | This research examines how higher education institutions can enhance the employability of business graduates by exploring the supply and demand for intercultural competencies, as perceived by both students and employers across Europe. It addresses two key research gaps: first, whether recent graduates in Europe meet employer expectations regarding intercultural competencies and second, how higher education institutions in Europe--particularly business schools--can improve graduates' employability by designing curricula that align with employer needs. Drawing on a cross-national study that includes 102 student and employer interviews conducted in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden and Turkey, the research seeks to gain insights into the demand and supply of intercultural competencies from both employer and student perspectives. The study identifies seven key intercultural competencies: cultural empathy, cognitive flexibility, conscientiousness, social initiative, emotional stability, open-mindedness and willingness to tolerate ambiguity. It also proposes an eighth critical dimension--digital competencies for intercultural collaboration. These eight dimensions are conceptualised in an 'Intercultural Competencies Framework', which includes three categories of learning activities based on the findings. This framework can assist educators and employers in designing training programmes that enhance intercultural communication and collaboration skills. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0141-1926 1469-3518 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/berj.70017 |
