Linking Distance and International Education: A Strategy for Developing Multicultural Competence among Distance Learners

Abstract

How can educators help distance learners develop knowledge and skills required for the expanding globalization? Campus-based-education providers rely mainly on two educational strategies to help students develop competencies that allow for effective participation in diverse workplace settings: (a) multicultural or international curriculums and (b) encouraging interaction with students and faculty of diverse backgrounds on campus. Although the former can be adopted/adapted online, the latter exerts no affect on the exploding number of distance learners. Although distance-education curricula and virtual interactions can lay a valuable knowledge foundation, practice through face-to-face experience is vital for learning essential multicultural skills. Participation in international educational programs provides opportunities to test out, adjust, consolidate, and fully develop most aspects of multicultural competence that are encountered virtually. The challenge arising from the contradiction between the increasing commitment to campus diversity and the increasing demand for distance education can be resolved by enhancing international education.