Developing Students’ Intercultural Sensitivity at the Home Campus: An Innovative Approach Using the Theory of the Creative Action Methodology Pedagogy

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20343/teachlearninqu.10.12

Keywords:

intercultural sensitivity, Creative Action Methodology, higher education

Abstract

Higher education institutes, including research universities and universities of applied sciences, face the challenge of developing effective internationalisation practices to prepare students for the demands of a globalising world. Researchers reporting on studies that are focused on universities’ internationalisation practices show that few practices are effective to develop students’ intercultural sensitivity. Broadly speaking, intercultural sensitivity means the ability to distinguish between real differences in values and behaviours across cultures, as well as the appreciation of values and behaviours even if they differ from one’s own. Interestingly, across the board researchers do not provide an explanation of what drives intercultural sensitivity development. This study reports on the impact of a new learning intervention that effectively developed local Dutch students’ intercultural sensitivity in the Netherlands, and it provides an explanation of this impact. For the intervention the theory of the Creative Action Methodology pedagogy (CAM) was used as a heuristic tool. CAM is a pedagogical approach that focuses on developing critical, analytical, and creative skills by having students break away from a culture of the truth. Results in this mixed-methods study, using the Intercultural Development Inventory and interviews, reveal that students significantly developed their intercultural sensitivity as they became empowered to break away from a culture of the truth.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biographies

Jonathan van Melle, Avans University

Jonathan van Melle has a Doctorate of Education from the University of Liverpool and currently works at the Avans University (NLD). His work focuses on internationalising HE programmes. He is a Professor of Intercultural Sensitivity.

Marco Ferreira, Instituto Superior de Educação e Ciências

Marco Ferreira has a PhD in Pedagogical Psychology. He is Professor of Education at ISEC Lisboa, Researcher at UIDEF/Institute of Education, and part-time Professor at FMH / University of Lisbon (PRT).

References

Altshuler, Lisa., Nan M. Sussman, and Elizabeth Kachur. 2003. “Assessing Changes in Intercultural Sensitivity Among Physician Trainees Using the Intercultural Development Inventory.” International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 27: 387–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-1767(03)00029-4.

Australian Government. 2021. Australian Strategy for International Education 2021–2030. https://www.dese.gov.au/australian-strategy-international-education-2021-2030/resources/australian-strategy-international-education-2021-2030.

Beere, Jackie. 2020. The Complete Learner’s Toolkit: Metacognition and Mindset-Equipping the Modern Learner with the Thinking, Social and Self-Regulation Skills to Succeed at School and in Life. Carmarthen, UK: Independent Thinking Press.

Behrnd, Verena, and Susanne Porzelt. 2012. “Intercultural Competence and Training Outcomes of Students with Experiences Abroad.” International Journal of Intercultural Relations 36, no. 2: 213–23.

Bennett, Milton. J. 1993. “Towards Ethnorelativism: A Developmental Model of Intercultural

Sensitivity.” In Education for the intercultural experience, edited by R. Michael Paige, 21–72. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc.

Bennett, Milton J. 2012. “Paradigmatic Assumptions and a Developmental Approach to Intercultural Learning.” In Student Learning Abroad. What Our Students are Learning, What They’re Not, and What We Do about It, edited by Michael Vande Berg, R. Michael Paige, and Kris Hemming Lou, 90–114. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.

Bussemaker, Mariëtte. 2014. Government’s Vision on the International Dimension of Higher Education and VET. (Letter No. IPC 2250). Retrieved from Government website: https://www.government.nl/ministries/ministry-of-education-culture-and-science/documents/letters/2014/07/21/government-s-vision-on-the-international-dimension-of-higher-education-and-vet.

Cohen, Louis, Lawrence Manion, and Keith Morrison. 2011. Research Methods In Education. 7th ed. New York, NY: Routledge.

Creswell, John. W. 2009. Research Design. Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 3rd Ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

Deardorff, Darla. K. 2006. “Identification and Assessment of Intercultural Competence as a Student Outcome of Internationalisation.” Journal of Studies in International Education 10, no. 3: 241–66.

Delnooz Paul V. A. Creative Action Methodology: About Education, Research and the Art of

Creative Thinking. 2008. Breda, the Netherlands: NHTV, Academic Studies.

Delnooz, Paul. V. A., and Eti W. de Vries. 2018. “How to Measure the Effectiveness of Teachers: Validation of an Instrument Based on the Creative Action Methodology.” Pedagogy and the Human Sciences 6, no. 1: 1–14.

Delnooz, P. V. A., Constance Janssen, Theo Pullens, Piet van Meer, and Nicole van Son. 2012. Over Creatieve Actie Methodologie en de Ontbrekende Schakel in Het Onderwijs: Op Weg Naar Kritische, Creatieve en Ondernemende Leerlingen en Studenten. De Theorie en Onderzoeksresultaten [On Creative Action Methodology and the Missing Link in Education: Towards Critical, Creative and Entrepreneurial Pupils and Students. Theory and Research Results]. City and publisher have been anonymised to ensure anonymity of the host organisation which is subject of this research.

Demetry, Chrysanthe, and Richard F. Vaz. 2017. “Influence of an Education Abroad Program on the Intercultural Sensitivity of STEM Undergraduates: A Mixed Methods Study.” Advances in Engineering Education 6, no. 1, (Spring): 1–32.

de Wit, Hans. 2010. Internationalisation of Higher Education in Europe and its Assessment, Trends And Issues. PDF file. December. https://people.utm.my/sanitah/files/2016/02/Internationalisation_of_Higher_Education_in_Europe_DEF_december_2010.pdf.

Eisenchlas, Susana, and Sue Trevaskes. 2007. “Developing Intercultural Communication Skills Through Intergroup Interaction.” Intercultural Education 18, no. 5, December: 413–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/14675980701685271.

Gordon, Sarah. R., and Mwarumba Mwavita. 2018. “Evaluating the International Dimension in an Undergraduate Curriculum by Assessing Students’ Intercultural Sensitivity.” Studies in Educational Evaluation, no. 59: 76–83.

Hammer, Mitchell R., Milton J. Bennett, and Richard Wiseman. 2003. “Measuring Intercultural Sensitivity: The Intercultural Development Inventory.” International Journal of Intercultural Relations 27, no. 4 (July): 421–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-1767(03)00032-4.

Hammer, Mitchell R. 2009. “The Intercultural Development Inventory.” In Contemporary Leadership and Intercultural Competence: Exploring the Cross-cultural Dynamics within Organizations, edited by Michael A. Moodian, 203–18. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Hammer, Mitchell. R. 2011. “Additional Cross-Cultural Validity Testing of the Intercultural Development Inventory.” International Journal of Intercultural Relations 35, no. 4: 474–87.

Hammer, Mitchell R. 2012. “The Intercultural Development Inventory: A New Frontier in

Assessment and Development of Intercultural Competence.” In Student Learning Abroad. What Our Students Are Learning, What They’re Not, and What We Do about It, edited by Michael Vande Berg, R. Michael Paige, and Kris Hemming Lou, 90–114. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.

Hattie, John, and Gregory Yates. 2014. Visible Learning and the Science of How We Learn. New York, NY: Routledge.

Jon, Jae-Eun. 2013. “Realizing Internationalization at Home on Korean Higher Education: Promoting Domestic Students' Interaction with International Students and Intercultural Competence.” Journal of Studies in International Education 17, no. 4: 455–70.

King, Patricia M., Marcia B. Baxter Magolda, and Johanna C. Massé. 2011. “Maximizing Learning from Engaging Across Difference: The Role of Anxiety and Meaning Making.” Equity & Excellence in Education 44, no. 4 (November): 468–87.

Knight, Jane. 2008. Higher Education in Turmoil: The Changing World of Internationalization. Rotterdam, the Netherlands: Sense Publishers.

López-Rocha, Sandra, and Fabienne Vailes. 2017. “Developing Intercultural Communicative Competence for the Year Abroad Experience.” In Innovative Language Teaching and Learning at University: Enhancing Employability, edited by Carmen Álvarez-Mayo, Angela Gallagher-Brett, and Franck Michel, 67–75. Research-publishing.net. https://doi.org/10.14705/rpnet.2017.innoconf2016.656

Lunenberg, Mieke, Petra Ponte, and Piet-Hein van de Ven. 2007. “Why Shouldn’t Teachers and Teacher Educators Conduct Research on Their Own Practices? An Epistemological Exploration.” European Education Research Journal 6, no. 1: 13–24.

Mellizo, Jennifer. M. 2017. “Exploring Intercultural Sensitivity in Early Adolescence: A Mixed Methods Study.” Intercultural Education 28, no. 6 (November): 571–90.

Ministry of Education Malaysia. 2013. Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2015 (Preschool to Post-Secondary Education). Retrieved from https://teachformalaysia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Preliminary-report-Blueprint-English.pdf.

Moses, Jonathon W, and Torbjørn L. Knutsen. 2007. Ways of Knowing: Competing Methodologies in Social and Political Research. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.

National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education. 1999. “All Our Futures: Creativity, Culture and Education.” Accessed March 2018. http://sirkenrobinson.com/pdf/allourfutures.pdf.

Olson, Christa Lee, and Kent R. Kroeger. 2001. “Global Competency and Intercultural Sensitivity.” Journal of Studies in International Education 5, no. 2 (June): 116–37. https://doi.org/10.1177/102831530152003.

Prieto-Flores, Òscar, Jordi Feu, and Xavier Casademont. 2016. “Assessing Intercultural Competence as a Result of Internationalization at Home Efforts: A Case Study from the Nightingale Mentoring Program.” Journal of Studies in International Education 20, no. 4: 437–53.

Pusch, Margaret D. 2009. “The Interculturally Competent Global Leader.” In The SAGE Handbook of Intercultural Competence, edited by Darla K. Deardorff, 66–84. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

Ragin, Charles C., and Lisa M. Amoroso. 2019. Constructing Social Research. The Unity and Diversity of Method. 3rd Ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Robinson, Ken, and Lou Aronica. 2018. You, Your Child and School: Navigate Your Way to the Best Education. UK: Penguin Random House, 2018.

Ryan, Gery W., and Bernard, H. R. 2003. Techniques to Identify Themes. Field Methods, 15(1), 85-109. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X02239569.

Swedish Government Inquiries. 2018. Internationalisation of Swedish Higher Education and research. Accessed January 28, 2019. http://www.government.se/48fc30/contentassets/4df6aeabd2bd4f5dbbf69210f786e133/internationalisationagenda.pdf.

Tillman, Martin. 2012. “Employer Perspectives on International Education.” In The SAGE handbook of intercultural higher education, edited by Darla K. Deardorff, Hans de Wit, John D. Heyl, and Tony Adams, 191–206. Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

Tirnaz, Samira, and Narafshan, Mehry H. 2018. “Promoting Intercultural Sensitivity and Classroom Climate in EFL Classrooms: The Use of Intercultural TV Advertisements.” Learning, Culture and Social Interaction. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lcsi.2018.10.001.

Trilling, Bernie, and Charles Fadel. 2009. 21st Century Skills. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Verschuren, Piet. J. M. 2002. “Dogma's en Ontwikkelingen in Wetenschap en Methodologie: Bedreigingen en Kansen” [Dogmas and Developments in Science and Methodology: Threats And Opportunities], 3–32. Accessed January 29, 2018. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/40127719_Dogma's_en_ontwikkelingen_in_wetenschap_en_methodologie_bedreigingen_en_kansen.

Young, Cheri A., Badiah Haffejee, and David L. Corsun. 2017. “The Relationship Between Ethnocentrism and Cultural Intelligence.” International Journal of Intercultural Relations 58: 31–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2017.04.001.

Students and instructor engaging in discussion.

Downloads

Published

2022-03-01

How to Cite

van Melle, Jonathan, and Marco Ferreira. 2022. “Developing Students’ Intercultural Sensitivity at the Home Campus: An Innovative Approach Using the Theory of the Creative Action Methodology Pedagogy”. Teaching and Learning Inquiry 10 (March). https://doi.org/10.20343/teachlearninqu.10.12.