Exploring Pre-Service Teachers’ Intercultural Communicative Competence and Global Citizen Learning in a Blended Intensive Program
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/subbpsyped.FOHE.6Keywords:
undergraduate level, intercultural communicative competence, education, academic exchange program, global learning, pre-service teachersAbstract
This paper aims to expand knowledge on undergraduate students’ development of intercultural communicative competence by examining the global citizen learning mindset facilitated by Erasmus Blended Intensive Programs (BIP). The mobility experience aligns with the internationalization of educational practices, enabling undergraduate students to develop global citizenship and thereby enhance their employability. A survey was used as the main research instrument. The study included 17 participants, and the data collected were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively through descriptive statistics offered by Google Forms' built-in tools and content analysis. The findings are similar to those of previous research, indicating the usefulness of participating in projects that provide relevant learning contexts and hands-on experiences, which contribute to the professional development of pre-service teachers.
References
Barrie, S. (2004). “A research-based approach to generic graduate attributes policy”. Higher Education Research & Development, 23(3), 261-275. Doi: 10.1080/07294360420000235391
Beard, C., Wilson, J. P. (eds.) (2018). Experiential Learning. A Practical Guide for Training, Coaching and Education, 4th edition. USA, UK, India: Kogan Page.
Behrnd, V., Porzelt, S. (2012). “Intercultural Competence and Training Outcomes of Students with Experiences Abroad”. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 36 (2): 213-223, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2011.04.005
Bohman, D., Borglin, G. (2014). “Student Exchange for Nursing Students: Does It Raise Cultural Awareness? A Descriptive, Qualitative Study.” Nurse Education in Practice 14: 259–264. Doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2013.11.006.
Cleak, H., Anand, J., Das, C. (2016). “Asking the Critical Questions: An Evaluation of Social Work Students’ Experiences in an International Placement.” British Journal of Social Work 46: 389–408. Doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcu126.
DeLong, M. et al. (2011). “Cultural exchange: Evaluating an alternative model in higher education.” Journal of Studies in International Education, 15 (1), 41–56. https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315309334619
Deardorff, D. (2009). “Synthesizing conceptualizations of intercultural competence: A summary and emerging themes”. In Darla Deardorff (ed.), The Sage handbook of intercultural competence, (pp. 264-270). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Gay, G. (2018). Culturally Responsive Teaching. Theory, Research and Practice. Amsterdam, New York: Teachers College Press.
Killick, D. (2020). “Beyond competencies and silos: Embedding graduate capabilities for a multicultural globalizing world across the mainstream curriculum”. Research in Comparative and International Education, 15(1): 27-35.
Killick, D. (2012). “Seeing ourselves-in-the-world: Developing global citizenship through international mobility”. Journal of Studies in International Education, 16(4), 372-389. Doi: 10.1177/1028315311431893
Laine I, Pirrone G, Phan KHQ, Milotta M, Väätänen J, Hagen B. (2025). "Integrating real-world entrepreneurship with international learning: insights from a blended intensive programme". Journal of International Education in Business, vol. 18 (3): 438–461. Doi: 10.1108/JIEB-08-2024-0112
Lilley, K., Barker, M., Neil, H. (2014). Educating global citizens in business schools. Journal of International Education in Business, vol. 7 (1): 72-84. Doi: 10.1108/JIEB-06-2012-0010
Mercer, S., Hockly, N., Stobart, G. & Lorenzo Galés, N. (2023). Global Skills: Creating Empowered 21st Century Learners, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://projectes.xtec.cat/internacional/wp-content/uploads/usu1767/2022/02/oup-expert-global-skills.pdf
Pop, R. (2024). Intercultural Communicative Competence: A Case Study on Academic Exchange Programmes. Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Philologia, 69(4), 97–116. https://doi.org/10.24193/subbphilo.2024.4.04.
Schartner, A, Cho, Y. (2017). “Empty signifiers’ and ‘dreamy ideals’: perceptions of the ‘international university among higher education students and staff at a British university.” Higher Education, 74(3), 455-472.
Schattle, H. (2008). The practices of global citizenship. Plymouth, UK: Rowman & Littlefield.
Selby, R. (2008). Designing transformation in international education. In V. Savicki (Ed.), Developing intercultural competence and transformation: Theory, research, and application in international education (pp. 1-12). Sterling, VA: Stylus.
Trávníčková, H, Purk, J., Löhr, A. (2025). Preparing University Students for the Labor Market Differently: Lessons from the Blended Intensive Program (BIP), ACC Journal 31 (B): 33-42. DOI: 10.2478/acc-2025-0008
UNESCO (2014), “Global citizenship education: Preparing learners for the challenges of the twenty-first century”, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000227729.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Psychologia-Paedagogia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
