Introducing the CI model for intercultural contact

Abstract

International education has become a dynamic export sector and a key source of income for education providers in New Zealand. Its development in the last twenty years has been characterized by steady growth of student numbers, and yet the economic good news has been tempered by a growing awareness of the acculturative stress and anxiety international students’ experience. This concern is exacerbated by news stories that depict international students as a disadvantaged group, and the profound impact of COVID-19 has highlighted international students’ vulnerability to a global pandemic. In the light of these complex challenges, there is a strengthening case for focused work on theory-to-practice models that support international student acculturation in educational contexts. This article introduces the CI model for intercultural contact as a framework that supports education providers’ engagement with international students. It draws on indigenous perspectives embedded in New Zealand’s bicultural heritage and presents three key concepts underpinned by research findings and practitioner experience: cross-disciplinary inquiry, comprehensible input and collaborative intervention.