The role of internationalisation in students’ cultural literacy and intercultural communication

Abstract

The internationalisation of studies is one of the most current trends in higher education, aimed at improving the quality of higher education and preparing students for the global labour market. Student mobility is one of the most common forms of internationalisation. As part of the given study, an interview with the groups of exchange and local students at a regional university has been conducted in order to clarify their views on the role of internationalisation in the educational process, general cultural literacy, promoting intercultural cooperation and building a global world view. The study took place in a bachelor's degree-level programme at a regional university in Latvia, using the qualitative method. A thematic analysis of the interviews was undertaken using an iterative, inductive approach to the generation of codes and themes. Coding was established using NVivo 12. In general, the internationalisation of studies (particularly student mobility) has been evaluated very positively by both local and exchange students. The advantages of internationalisation are associated with the possibility of obtaining specific cultural expertise and learning life-friendly soft skills. In the future, the respondents see themselves employed in international teams taking as an advantage the experience gained in the internationalisation process. In addition, exchange students have pointed out that the mobility experience specified in Curricula vitae could be considered by an employer as added value thus enhancing the opportunities to get a better job.