Table Of Content“A beautiful book with real stories analyzed from the lens of intercultural
competence. It brings together an array of perspectives and reflections us-
ing first-person narratives to enable readers to immerse themselves in the
thought-provoking stories. A must-read for all who wish to truly under-
stand international student experiences.”
– Xin Zhao, University Teacher and Senior Fellow of Higher Education
Academy, University of Sheffield, UK
“Reading the personal narratives and analyses in this book touches deeply
into that corner in the heart, where it contains mixed emotions when
studying abroad, the pain, hurt, blue, entangled with inspiration, excite-
ment, and cross-cultural friendship. In this sense, this book was great in
revealing the messages to a world that calls for equality and respect.”
– Yibo Yang, Senior Lecturer, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
“This is a much-needed contribution to the field of intercultural com-
petence among international students. What makes this book even more
significant is the innovative Story Circle methodology.”
– Kamil Luczaj, Assistant Professor,
UITM Rzeszow, Poland
“Books told through lived stories are most effective means to educate and
influence people. This book helps you sort through your volumes of emo-
tions and reactions with the narratives and dialectical dimensions of cul-
tural navigation.”
– Jing Luan, Provost, San Mateo Colleges
of Silicon Valley (Cañada, CSM & Skyline), USA
“This book is a must-read for international students either planning to
travel abroad or wanting to know more about cultural differences and
stereotypes among others. What this book offers is very unique and the
salient information captured cannot be found anywhere else. I highly rec-
ommend this book for every international student.”
– Linda Tsevi, Senior Lecturer, College of Education,
University of Ghana, Ghana
“This compelling book is a collection of international students’ thoughts,
ideas, and critical insights from several perspectives. The openness of fifty
shades of personal narratives deconstructs stereotypes, bias, and cultural
difference. The book draws on theoretical frameworks that intersect iden-
tities and cultural experiences. An insightful and valuable addition to the
growing area of developing intercultural competence.”
– Dawn Joseph, Associate Professor, Deakin University, Australia
“Whether you are interested in student mobility as a practitioner or an
academic, this book is a pleasure to read. Full of stories about clashing cul-
tural differences, stereotypes and mutual understanding, the volume covers
an important dimension of international student mobility.”
– Miloslav Bahna, Senior Researcher, Institute for Sociology,
Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia
“I cannot recommend enough the methodology and the approach of fore-
grounding lived experiences of international people taken in this book.
Reading the stories presented in the book and the editors’ commentaries
is essential for anyone wishing to deepen, in genuine ways, their under-
standing of the theoretical and practical nuances surrounding intercultural
competence.”
– Aneta Hayes, Senior Lecturer in Education, Keele University, UK
DEVELOPING INTERCULTURAL
COMPETENCE IN HIGHER
EDUCATION
This book presents students’ reflections on their intercultural student experi-
ences, and utilizing the UNESCO Story Circle methodology, illustrates how
such reflection can aid the development of intercultural competence (IC).
The volume features a broad range of first-person narratives that showcase the
diversity of student experiences encountered while studying abroad in a variety
of cultural and institutional settings. Engaging with issues in relation to identity
negotiation, stereotypes, cultural difference, and communities of support, the
text demonstrates application of the UNESCO Story Circle approach in devel-
oping IC. Further, vignettes are analyzed and guiding questions are offered to
structure readers’ reflection and discussion to facilitate further honing of inter-
cultural competencies. The volume promotes IC among individual educators,
trainers, international students, and community members and provides guidance
in addressing international students’ well-being more broadly.
This text will benefit scholars, academics, and students in the fields of higher
education, multicultural education, and intercultural communication. Those
involved with international and comparative education as well as student affair
practice and higher education administration will also benefit from this volume.
Lily A. Arasaratnam-Smith is Deputy Vice President Faculty and Professor of
Communication at Alphacrucis University College, Australia. She is a Fellow of
the International Academy for Intercultural Research.
Darla K. Deardorff holds numerous faculty positions at universities around the
world including as Research Fellow in the Social Science Research Institute at
Duke University, USA and has also taught at Harvard University’s Global
Education Think Tank. She is Executive Director of the Association of
International Education Administrators (AIEA) and Founder of ICC Global and
the World Council on Intercultural and Global Competence.
Routledge Studies in Global Student Mobility
Series Editors: Krishna Bista and Christopher Glass
Routledge Studies in Global Student Mobility offers a scholarly forum for original
and innovative research which explores, explains, and increases understanding
of issues and opportunities relating to international student mobility in K-12,
higher education, and beyond. Consisting of peer-reviewed authored and
edited volumes, the series advances theoretical understanding and identifies best
practices for educators and professionals involved in study abroad.
As an interdisciplinary scholarly venue, the series showcases new ideas and
fresh perspectives relating to international student mobility, study abroad,
exchange programs, student affairs from the US and around the world, and from
a wide range of academic fields, including student affairs, international educa-
tion, and cultural studies.
This series is produced in collaboration with the CIES SIG Study Abroad
& International Students, STAR Scholars Network, and Open Journals in
Education (OJED).
Books in this series include:
International Student Mobility to and from the Middle East
Theorizing Public, Institutional, and Self-Constructions of Cross-Border
Students
Edited by Aneta Hayes and Sally Findlow
Developing Intercultural Competence in Higher Education
International Students’ Stories and Self-Reflection
Lily A. Arasaratnam-Smith and Darla K. Deardorff
Chinese Students and the Experience of International Doctoral Study
in STEM
Using a Multi-World Model to Understand Challenges and Success
Yibo Yang and Judith MacCallum
For more information about this series, please visit: https://www.routledge.com/
go/routledge-studies-in-global-student-mobility
DEVELOPING
INTERCULTURAL
COMPETENCE IN
HIGHER EDUCATION
International Students’ Stories and
Self-Reflection
Lily A. Arasaratnam-Smith
and Darla K. Deardorff
First published 2023
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2023 Lily A. Arasaratnam-Smith and Darla K. Deardorff
The right of Lily A. Arasaratnam-Smith and Darla K. Deardorff to be identified
as authors of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78
of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent
to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Arasaratnam-Smith, Lily A., author. | Deardorff, Darla K., author.
Title: Developing intercultural competence in higher education :
international students' stories in education abroad / Lily A.
Arasaratnam-Smith and Darla K. Deardorff.
Description: New York, NY : Routledge, 2023. | Series: Routledge studies in
global student mobility | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022012523 | ISBN 9781032134987 (hardback) | ISBN
9781032134970 (paperback) | ISBN 9781003229551 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Foreign study. | International education. | Intercultural
communication--Study and teaching (Higher) | Cultural competence.
Classification: LCC LB2375 .A73 2023 | DDC 370.116--dc23/eng/20220521
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022012523
ISBN: 978-1-032-13498-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-13497-0 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-22955-1 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003229551
Typeset in Bembo
by SPi Technologies India Pvt Ltd (Straive)
Lily: To the sojourners, teachers, learners and thinkers whose
self-reflection and compassion foster intercultural competence; and to
my husband Clive, who embodies the best of such qualities.
Darla: To all those who continue on their intercultural journeys
in building a better world, including those who contributed their own
narratives in this book.
CONTENTS
List of Contributors xi
Acknowledgments xiv
Foreword xv
1 Introduction: The UNESCO Story Circles Methodology and
Intercultural Competence 1
PART 1
Exploring Student Experiences Abroad 9
2 Understanding the Intersection of Culture and Identity 11
3 Recognizing and Reassessing Stereotypes 38
4 Navigating Cultural Differences 66
PART 2
Developing Students’ Intercultural Competence 89
5 Using Self-Reflection to Develop Intercultural Competence 91
6 Experiencing Support and Community 116
