The Relationship Between Time Spent Abroad and Intercultural Sensitivity

Abstract

In today’s globalised business landscape, characterised by a proliferation of multinational corporations employing culturally diverse workforces, intercultural sensitivity is important in facilitating collaboration. Regarding higher education, it has been found that intercultural sensitivity can be increased through time spent abroad, although the results have been shown to vary depending on the specific context. As the impact of time spent abroad on intercultural sensitivity has yet to be examined in the Hungarian context, this study aimed to investigate whether there were significant differences in various components of intercultural sensitivity between Hungarian business students who had spent varying periods abroad. A total of 270 Hungarian business students from a leading Hungarian business university, aged 18-26, completed the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS). The focus was on intercultural sensitivity levels between students who had spent less than one month abroad and those who had spent more than one month abroad. The findings indicated that students who spent more time abroad showed improved confidence in intercultural interactions; however, significant differences for other components of the ISS were not observed. Although the results are specific to the Hungarian or Central European context, the findings provide insight for institutions seeking to design effective exchange programs that promote intercultural competence among students, preparing them for success in the global business environment.