Problematising interculturality in international internships: A Taiwanese perspective

Abstract

Research has promoted the value of international internships for university students as an alternative to study abroad programs. Yet, little was known about how individual identities shaped student interns’ interactions with people from other cultures. The study examines how five college students from Taiwan, who worked as interns in Singapore and Thailand prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, navigated cultural similarities and differences while personally and socially constructing their identities in relation to others. This study explored the way in which interculturality is constructed in international internships and how that can be problematic because of interns’ limited awareness of hierarchical power dynamics, cultural gender role differences, and their roles as foreigners, and interns. Additionally, findings suggest that universities that engage their students in international internships must offer a preparatory curriculum for students to explore and prepare for the cross-cultural issues that may occur in an international internship programs.