Intercultural Training and its Effect on Cultural Competence Development

The empirical study examines the effectiveness of an intercultural training. One of the main goals of an intercultural training is a development of cultural competencies. The assumption that a completion of intercultural training will lead to a development of cultural competences has been empirically verified.

By intercultural training, we mean educational and experiential programs that help participants develop abilities to effectively adapt, function, and communicate in intercultural and multicultural environments. Participants in the "Intercultural training" academic course included not only domestic university students, but foreign students (from several European Union countries) as well. The course taught in English language, has been divided into three thematic blocks. Participant´s cultural competences have been assessed by a self-report scale (CCPE).

Results: Improvement in cultural competences between the first measurement at the beginning of the course, and at the end of the third training session is statistically significant. In a retest situation, the group of domestic students served as a control group. There has been no statistically significant difference in the improvement between the group of domestic and the group of foreign students. The results of the survey speak in favour of the effectiveness of intercultural training for the development of cultural competences. An allegation that solely long-term residence in foreign culture has led to the development of cultural competencies in foreign students is not a sufficient explanation of the results. The results of the survey and possibilities of further research of cultural and intercultural competences are being discussed.