Vietnamese International Students in Offshore Programs: Engagement in Intercultural Communicative Competence and Intercultural Sensitivity

ABSTRACT This mixed-methods explores the intercultural communicative competence (ICC) and intercultural sensitivity (IS) of Vietnamese international students who participated in offshore programmes. A group of 164 students were examined. The students studied abroad at several universities overseas, and then returned to their Vietnamese university as part of an offshore programme between a Vietnam university and partnered universities overseas. The quantitative and qualitative results altogether suggested there were relationships between three ICC constructs, with each construct valued by students differently. Our findings also showed the relationships between ICC and IS to some extent. Students located across three different continents placed importance on the five elements of IS. Although students most valued respect for cultural differences, their growth in IS seemed to contribute to their ICC levels.