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Intercultural Competence: Diversity in Higher Education

5 Competencies for Culturally Competent Teaching & Learning

Culturally competent teaching and learning:

  • Facilitates critical reflection
  • Demands respect for others
  • Involves accommodating individual learners
  • Requires the use of intercultural communication skills
  • Requires focused activities and intentionally structured environments

From 5 Competencies for Culturally Competent Teaching & Learning, by Cheryl Irish, EdD and Monica Scrubb, EdD

Educating Globally Competent Citizens

To become globally competent citizens, college students should acquire the following skills upon graduation:

KNOWLEDGE

Students should be able to

  • Describe important current events and global issues (e.g., environment, economic, political, health, population).
  • Understand and analyze issues and events in the context of world geography.
  • Explain how historical forces affect current events and issues.
  • Describe the nation-state system with its strengths and limitations.
  • Describe cultures from around the world, including religions, languages, customs, and traditions.
  • Identify transnational organizations (e.g., NGOs, multinational corporations) and their impact on current issues.
  • Explain the interdependence of events and systems.
  • Describe how one's own culture and history affect one's worldview and expectations.

SKILLS

Students should be able to

  • Obtain relevant information related to the knowledge competencies listed above.
  • Analyze and evaluate the quality of information obtained.
  • Think critically about problems and issues.
  • Communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
  • Communicate and interact effectively across cultures.
  • Speak a second language.
  • Take action to effect change, both individually and with a team.

ATTITUDES

Students should be predisposed to

  • Be open to new ideas and perspectives.
  • Value differences among people and cultures.
  • Be intellectually curious about the world.
  • Be humble, recognizing the limitations of one's knowledge and skills.
  • Reflect on one's place in the world and connection with humanity.
  • Engage in an ethical analysis of issues and have empathy for one's fellow human beings.
  • Feel a sense of responsibility and efficacy to take action based on ethical analysis and empathy.

 

From Educating Globally Competent Citizens A Tool Kit for Teaching Seven Revolutions