The special role of education in the development of intercultural competences - comparative analysis of the results of interviews with students from different European countries

Research objectives and problem(s): This article aims to describe the role of education in developing students’ intercultural competences. The research problem addresses the question: How do students perceive the importance of education (university studies) in shaping intercultural competences nece...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Agnieszka Knap-Stefaniuk, Ewa Agata Sowa-Behtane, Joan Sorribes, Josep Boyra, Caterina De Lucia, Pasquale Pazienza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ignatianum University Press 2025-06-01
Series:Multidisciplinary Journal of School Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://czasopisma.ignatianum.edu.pl/jpe/article/view/3570
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1839646545261101056
author Agnieszka Knap-Stefaniuk
Ewa Agata Sowa-Behtane
Joan Sorribes
Josep Boyra
Caterina De Lucia
Pasquale Pazienza
author_facet Agnieszka Knap-Stefaniuk
Ewa Agata Sowa-Behtane
Joan Sorribes
Josep Boyra
Caterina De Lucia
Pasquale Pazienza
author_sort Agnieszka Knap-Stefaniuk
collection DOAJ
description Research objectives and problem(s): This article aims to describe the role of education in developing students’ intercultural competences. The research problem addresses the question: How do students perceive the importance of education (university studies) in shaping intercultural competences necessary for their future careers? Research methods: The research methods include a literature review and an analysis of data from individual in-depth interviews conducted with students from Poland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Process of argumentation: The article begins by outlining the theoretical background of intercultural education and intercultural competence. This is followed by a description of the research methods, an analysis of the interview results, and a discussion of the findings based on interviews with students from the four participating countries. Research findings and their impact on the development of educational sciences: Higher education plays an important  role in developing students’ intercultural competences and serves as the foundation for successfully preparing them to work in culturally diverse environments.  Intercultural competence supports successful collaboration in teams composed of individuals from different cultural backgrounds. All interviewed students emphasized the importance of education in enhancing these competences and in preparing them for their professional futures. Conclusions and/or recommendations: Higher education institutions bear the responsibility of preparing students to act flexibly, adaptively, and interculturally in today’s workplace. Instructors teaching subjects such as human resource management in culturally diverse settings should pay particular attention to developing students’ intercultural competences by shaping their attitudes, behaviors, communication styles, and interpersonal skills. Intercultural competence is essential, and educational activities can foster openness to other cultures, promote appropriate attitudes, and support adaptability.
format Article
id doaj-art-d29f992de1b24b7e8b7cffdba3f53011
institution Matheson Library
issn 2543-8409
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Ignatianum University Press
record_format Article
series Multidisciplinary Journal of School Education
spelling doaj-art-d29f992de1b24b7e8b7cffdba3f530112025-06-30T12:13:30ZengIgnatianum University PressMultidisciplinary Journal of School Education2543-84092025-06-01141 (27)10.35765/mjse.2025.1427.04The special role of education in the development of intercultural competences - comparative analysis of the results of interviews with students from different European countriesAgnieszka Knap-Stefaniuk0Ewa Agata Sowa-Behtane1Joan Sorribes2Josep Boyra3Caterina De Lucia4Pasquale Pazienza5Ignatianum University in CracowIgnatianum University in Cracow University of Girona, BarcelonaUniversity of Girona, BarcelonaUniversity of Foggia, PugliaUniversity of Foggia, Puglia Research objectives and problem(s): This article aims to describe the role of education in developing students’ intercultural competences. The research problem addresses the question: How do students perceive the importance of education (university studies) in shaping intercultural competences necessary for their future careers? Research methods: The research methods include a literature review and an analysis of data from individual in-depth interviews conducted with students from Poland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Process of argumentation: The article begins by outlining the theoretical background of intercultural education and intercultural competence. This is followed by a description of the research methods, an analysis of the interview results, and a discussion of the findings based on interviews with students from the four participating countries. Research findings and their impact on the development of educational sciences: Higher education plays an important  role in developing students’ intercultural competences and serves as the foundation for successfully preparing them to work in culturally diverse environments.  Intercultural competence supports successful collaboration in teams composed of individuals from different cultural backgrounds. All interviewed students emphasized the importance of education in enhancing these competences and in preparing them for their professional futures. Conclusions and/or recommendations: Higher education institutions bear the responsibility of preparing students to act flexibly, adaptively, and interculturally in today’s workplace. Instructors teaching subjects such as human resource management in culturally diverse settings should pay particular attention to developing students’ intercultural competences by shaping their attitudes, behaviors, communication styles, and interpersonal skills. Intercultural competence is essential, and educational activities can foster openness to other cultures, promote appropriate attitudes, and support adaptability. https://czasopisma.ignatianum.edu.pl/jpe/article/view/3570educationrole of educationintercultural competencesstudentsEuropean countries
spellingShingle Agnieszka Knap-Stefaniuk
Ewa Agata Sowa-Behtane
Joan Sorribes
Josep Boyra
Caterina De Lucia
Pasquale Pazienza
The special role of education in the development of intercultural competences - comparative analysis of the results of interviews with students from different European countries
Multidisciplinary Journal of School Education
education
role of education
intercultural competences
students
European countries
title The special role of education in the development of intercultural competences - comparative analysis of the results of interviews with students from different European countries
title_full The special role of education in the development of intercultural competences - comparative analysis of the results of interviews with students from different European countries
title_fullStr The special role of education in the development of intercultural competences - comparative analysis of the results of interviews with students from different European countries
title_full_unstemmed The special role of education in the development of intercultural competences - comparative analysis of the results of interviews with students from different European countries
title_short The special role of education in the development of intercultural competences - comparative analysis of the results of interviews with students from different European countries
title_sort special role of education in the development of intercultural competences comparative analysis of the results of interviews with students from different european countries
topic education
role of education
intercultural competences
students
European countries
url https://czasopisma.ignatianum.edu.pl/jpe/article/view/3570
work_keys_str_mv AT agnieszkaknapstefaniuk thespecialroleofeducationinthedevelopmentofinterculturalcompetencescomparativeanalysisoftheresultsofinterviewswithstudentsfromdifferenteuropeancountries
AT ewaagatasowabehtane thespecialroleofeducationinthedevelopmentofinterculturalcompetencescomparativeanalysisoftheresultsofinterviewswithstudentsfromdifferenteuropeancountries
AT joansorribes thespecialroleofeducationinthedevelopmentofinterculturalcompetencescomparativeanalysisoftheresultsofinterviewswithstudentsfromdifferenteuropeancountries
AT josepboyra thespecialroleofeducationinthedevelopmentofinterculturalcompetencescomparativeanalysisoftheresultsofinterviewswithstudentsfromdifferenteuropeancountries
AT caterinadelucia thespecialroleofeducationinthedevelopmentofinterculturalcompetencescomparativeanalysisoftheresultsofinterviewswithstudentsfromdifferenteuropeancountries
AT pasqualepazienza thespecialroleofeducationinthedevelopmentofinterculturalcompetencescomparativeanalysisoftheresultsofinterviewswithstudentsfromdifferenteuropeancountries
AT agnieszkaknapstefaniuk specialroleofeducationinthedevelopmentofinterculturalcompetencescomparativeanalysisoftheresultsofinterviewswithstudentsfromdifferenteuropeancountries
AT ewaagatasowabehtane specialroleofeducationinthedevelopmentofinterculturalcompetencescomparativeanalysisoftheresultsofinterviewswithstudentsfromdifferenteuropeancountries
AT joansorribes specialroleofeducationinthedevelopmentofinterculturalcompetencescomparativeanalysisoftheresultsofinterviewswithstudentsfromdifferenteuropeancountries
AT josepboyra specialroleofeducationinthedevelopmentofinterculturalcompetencescomparativeanalysisoftheresultsofinterviewswithstudentsfromdifferenteuropeancountries
AT caterinadelucia specialroleofeducationinthedevelopmentofinterculturalcompetencescomparativeanalysisoftheresultsofinterviewswithstudentsfromdifferenteuropeancountries
AT pasqualepazienza specialroleofeducationinthedevelopmentofinterculturalcompetencescomparativeanalysisoftheresultsofinterviewswithstudentsfromdifferenteuropeancountries