Introducing The Multicultural Competence To University Students

The paper analyses the possible definitions of cultural competence taking into account the multicultural characteristic of higher education and of the e-learning environments. It also considers some modalities to make students aware of the importance of becoming culturally competent, as it is one of the main requirements on the job market. It is essential that teachers and instructors should also include the skills to become culturally competent in their curricula. In this respect, teachers have been increasingly preoccupied with culturally-based adaptive education, especially those involved in online learning environments. The paper explores the literature connected to this topic, focusing on relevant conclusions that could be used for future research. The present study also takes into consideration 'the other side', analyzing the feedback from a group of university students who were part of a Business Communication course that integrated aspects of multicultural competence in the curriculum. During the course, various dimensions of culture and cultural differences were identified in order to introduce students to potential situations that could require them to be (multi)culturally competent. Finally, we address the challenges faced both by university teachers and students and we suggest how cultural issues should be solved instead of avoiding them. Some solutions refer to developing culturally appropriate communication, directly addressing critical cultural differences, and last but not least, modifying the educational curricula and process.