ABSTRACT:

As internationalization intensifies in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, higher education campuses are becoming increasingly diverse. This development, however, is not necessarily translating into meaningful intercultural dialogue without some form of pedagogical intervention. Recent investigations of both inbound and outbound international exchange students have helped to identify and make sense of the many barriers and facilitating factors that can either enhance or impede the academic and social integration of newcomers. This is important as this affects the amount and quality of intercultural interactions both in and outside the classroom. As administrators, researchers, and educators are discovering, a rise in the number of international students on campus does not automatically lead to interculturality and open, inclusive mindsets.

 After reviewing and discussing the multifarious factors that can influence intercultural engagement, this interactive workshop will focus on practical, innovative ways to foster constructive intercultural dialogue on campuses. In addition to providing examples of research-inspired interventions that have been implemented in Hong Kong (either face-to-face or online), the session will encourage the participants to share their ideas about ways to foster interculturality and inclusivity in higher education so that both mobile and non-mobile students can more fully benefit from the affordances of increased diversity.

Learning objectives

After this interactive session, participants will be able to: 

• identify common internal and external factors that can hinder or facilitate meaningful intercultural dialogue on campus (both in and outside of the classroom);
• understand and discuss the numerous benefits of devising intercultural interventions in both the academic and social spheres in today’s diverse campus;
• design constructive interventions to enhance intercultural interactions and foster respect and inclusivity in higher education among both mobile and non-mobile students.