Influence of Students’ Interactions Abroad on Developing Intercultural Competence

ABSTRACT Study-abroad programs represent one of the initiatives implemented by universities to internationalize curricula and prepare students to perform in a globalized society. The purpose of this research was to evaluate how intercultural interactions influence the development of intercultural competence. Results from a sample of 158 students indicate that students’ intercultural contacts have a significant positive effect on their change in intercultural competence, which is calculated as the difference between the measures before and after going abroad (b = .236; s.e. = .104; β = .289; p < .05). These findings confirm that mere exposure to foreign environments does not automatically result in effective learning; thus, universities should set conditions to facilitate active engagement between visiting students and national hosts.