Category: Discussion of Research

Preliminary Evidence in Favor of Raising ICC at Hellenic MET Institutes

Posted Maria KoutivaLeave a commentPosted in Discussion of Research, Peer Reviewed Articles

Abstract English competence is a prerequisite for working at sea and, as such, language requirements for seafarers are rather evident (Sampson & Zhao, 2003; IMO SMCP, 2001). However, it appears that to date there has not been an official intercultural communication competence (ICC) study program addressing the Hellenic MET students’ needs to work and live among multinational vessel crews. This article, part of ongoing, longitudinal research commenced in autumn 2019, presents our research on designing and piloting a Maritime sector specific ICC measurement tool. ICC is defined as the capacity to bridge cultures effectively (Arasaratnam, 2016), and upon indisputable research […]

The Profile of an Intercultural Competence Educator for Healthcare and Other Professions

Posted Susan Schärli-Lim et al.Leave a commentPosted in Discussion of Research, Peer Reviewed Articles

Introduction  Once upon a time, an international student started a 3-day work shadowing in a community setting. At the end of the first day, the community supervisor refused to work with the student stating that the student was uninterested, because she didn´t ask any questions! The student was shocked and said that she was really interested. She thought it was impolite to ask the expert any questions. Once they were guided to reflect on their different expectations, they both agreed to continue and learned a lot.  This situation reflects the need for trainers and students to be interculturally competent. The […]

Applicability of the Global Competency and Intercultural Sensitivity Indices in the Japanese Educational Environment: Comparative Assessment of Validity and Reliability Testing

Posted Dr. Kaori Burkart, Dr. Christopher Burkart and Dr. Raymond LangleyLeave a commentPosted in Discussion of Research, Peer Reviewed Articles

Abstract Translating survey instruments from one language to another poses unique challenges and requires careful consideration of multiple issues. This paper examines the translation and application of instruments known as the Global Competence Index and Intercultural Sensitivity Index from their original English to Japanese. A thorough discussion of translation issues is included, and the paper presents detailed results from a pilot study of the version that has been translated to Japanese. The reliability and validity of Japanese translated instruments are tested and compared with outcomes from the original English-language instruments. The results indicated that the translated instruments are equally valid […]