Developing Intercultural Competence in Higher Education: International Students’ Stories and Self-Reflection(Routledge Studies in Global Student Mobility)

This book presents students’ reflections on their intercultural student experiences, and utilizing the UNESCO Story Circle methodology, illustrates how such reflection can aid the development of intercultural competence (IC). The volume features a broad range of first-person narratives that showcase the diversity of student experience encountered whilst studying abroad in a variety of cultural and institutional settings. Engaging with issues in relation to identity negotiation, stereotypes, cultural difference, and communities of support, the text demonstrates application of the UNESCO Story Circle approach in developing IC. Further, vignettes are analyzed and guiding questions are offered to structure readers’ reflection and discussion to facilitate further honing of intercultural competencies. The volume promotes IC amongst individual educators, trainers, international students, and community members and provides guidance in addressing international students’ wellbeing more broadly. This text will benefit scholars, academics, and students in the fields of higher education, multicultural education, and intercultural communication. Those involved with international and comparative education as well as student affair practice and higher education administration will also benefit from this volume.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Introduction: The UNESCO Story Circle Methodology and Intercultural Competence Part 1: Exploring Student Experiences Abroad Chapter 2: Understanding the Intersection of Culture and Identity Chapter 3: Recognizing and Reassessing Stereotypes Chapter 4: Navigating Cultural Differences Part 2: Developing Students’ Intercultural Competence Chapter 5: Using Self-Reflection to Develop Intercultural Competence Chapter 6: Experiencing Support and Community Chapter 7: Building Relationships through Intercultural Competence Chapter 8: The Stories that Shape Us: The Lifelong Process of Developing Intercultural Competence

About the Author :
Lily A. Arasaratnam-Smith is Deputy Vice President Faculty and Professor of Communication at Alphacrucis University College, Australia. She is a Fellow of the International Academy for Intercultural Research. Darla K. Deardorff is on the faculty of Harvard University’s Global Education Think Tank and is a Research Fellow in the Social Science Research Institute at Duke University, US. She is Executive Director of the Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA) and founder of ICC Global and the World Council on Intercultural and Global Competence.

Review :
"A beautiful book with real stories analyzed from the lens of intercultural competence. It brings together an array of perspectives and reflections using first-person narratives to enable readers to immerse themselves in the thought-provoking stories. A must-read for all who wish to truly understand international student experiences." -- Xin Zhao, University Teacher and Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy, University of Sheffield, UK "Reading the personal narratives and analyses in this book touches deeply into that corner in the heart, where it contains mixed emotions when studying abroad, the pain, hurt, blue, entangled with inspiration, excitement, and cross-cultural friendship. In this sense, this book was great in revealing the messages to a world that calls for equality and respect." --Yibo Yang, Senior Lecturer, Harbin Institute of Technology, China "This is a much-needed contribution to the field of intercultural competence among international students. What makes this book even more significant is the innovative Story Circle methodology." --Kamil Luczaj, Assistant Professor at the UITM Rzeszow, Poland "Books told through lived stories are most effective means to educate and influence people. This book helps you sort through your volumes of emotions and reactions with the narratives and dialectical dimensions of cultural navigation." --Jing Luan, Provost, San Mateo Colleges of Silicon Valley (Cañada, CSM & Skyline) "This book is a must-read for international students either planning to travel abroad or wanting to know more about cultural differences and stereotypes among others. What this book offers is very unique and the salient information captured cannot be found anywhere else. I highly recommend this book for every international student." --Linda Tsevi, Senior Lecturer, College of Education, University of Ghana "This compelling book is a collection of international students’ thoughts, ideas, and critical insights from several perspectives. The openness of fifty shades of personal narratives deconstructs stereotypes, bias, and cultural difference. The book draws on theoretical frameworks that intersect identities and cultural experiences. An insightful and valuable addition to the growing area of developing intercultural competence." --Dawn Joseph, Associate Professor, Deakin University, Australia "Whether you are interested in student mobility as a practitioner or an academic, this book is a pleasure to read. Full of stories about clashing cultural differences, stereotypes and mutual understanding, the volume covers an important dimension of international student mobility." --Miloslav Bahna, Senior Researcher, Institute for Sociology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia "I cannot recommend enough the methodology and the approach of foregrounding lived experiences of international people taken in this book. Reading the stories presented in the book and the editors’ commentaries is essential for anyone wishing to deepen, in genuine ways, their understanding of the theoretical and practical nuances surrounding intercultural competence." --Aneta Hayes, Senior Lecturer in Education, Keele University, UK