Assessing Intercultural Competence in The Digital World: Evidence from Virtual Exchange Experience in a Study Abroad Program

Abstract

Intercultural skills are valued by employers and the education community. The current study presents evidence to measure the impact of an innovative pedagogical practice that cultivates and develops the intercultural competence of undergraduate college students. Fifteen U.S. undergraduate students enrolled in a business study abroad course and 12 Chinese undergraduate students participated in a virtual student exchange project in spring 2019. The students collaborated on the project via global distance learning technology to jointly provide a comprehensive investment recommendation report. A comparison of U.S. students’ Intercultural Effectiveness Scale scores at the beginning and at the end of the project revealed significant positive changes in the intercultural competence of the students. Significantly, student self-evaluations and peer surveys confirmed improvement in students’ global mindset. Being one of the first studies to demonstrate student intercultural competence and learning through a virtual exchange experience, the current study provides implications for study abroad and virtual global learning.