ADVANTAGES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENTS’ SOCIO-CULTURAL COMPETENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY
Abstract
This paper examines the advantages of developing students’ socio-cultural competence in the context of university education. As globalization reshapes higher education, universities must prepare students not only as professionals but also as culturally competent individuals capable of effective communication across diverse societies. The article explores theoretical foundations of socio-cultural competence, its structure and components, and the benefits of its integration into university curricula. It analyzes pedagogical approaches—intercultural education, project-based learning, and authentic communication—and discusses how socio-cultural competence enhances students’ academic, professional, and personal growth. The paper concludes with recommendations for higher education institutions to foster socio-cultural competence systematically through interdisciplinary and experiential learning.
References
1. Byram, M. (1997). Teaching and Assessing Intercultural Communicative Competence. Multilingual Matters.
2. Deardorff, D. K. (2006). “Identification and Assessment of Intercultural Competence as a Student Outcome of Internationalization.” Journal of Studies in International Education, 10(3), 241–266.
3. Fantini, A. E. (2019). Developing Intercultural Competence: Concepts and Frameworks. Routledge.
4. Godwin-Jones, R. (2018). “Emerging Technologies: Using Virtual Exchange for Language and Intercultural Learning.” Language Learning & Technology, 22(3), 1–9.
5. Kramsch, C. (1993). Context and Culture in Language Teaching. Oxford University Press.
6. Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. Prentice Hall.
7. Leask, B. (2015). Internationalizing the Curriculum. Routledge.
8. O’Dowd, R. (2021). Virtual Exchange: Towards Digital Internationalization in the Language Classroom. Cambridge University Press.
9. Spitzberg, B. H., & Changnon, G. (2009). “Conceptualizing Intercultural Competence.” In D. K. Deardorff (Ed.), The SAGE Handbook of Intercultural Competence (pp. 2–52). SAGE.
10. UNESCO. (2013). Intercultural Competences: Conceptual and Operational Framework. UNESCO Publishing.
