CQ Development Through Information and Network Gathering Abroad: A Human/Social Capital Perspective

Abstract

While international experience has been conceptualized and empirically found to improve cultural intelligence (CQ), relatively little is known about the process that facilitates CQ development. Adopting a proactive, human and social capital perspective, we examined the mediating effects of foreign exchange students’ human capital (cultural and study information gathering) and social capital (local national and foreign national network gathering) between proactive personality and CQ development following their return from study abroad. We tested our hypotheses with a sample of 167 foreign exchange students in Germany by using a three-wave, pre- and post-CQ test design. Results largely support our hypotheses, showing first that proactive personality positively relates to human capital development in terms of cultural and study information gathering, while only positively relating to social capital development, foreign national network gathering. Second, cultural information gathering and network gathering with foreign nationals facilitates CQ development. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.