As part of the PADMICA project, the consortium, led by ELTE, prepared a comprehensive literature review on interculturality, intercultural competence, and the cultural adaptation of international students. The author of the literature review is Nguyen Luu Lan Anh, a professor at ELTE and a Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA).
The literature review provided an important professional background and starting point for the further activities of the project. Among other things, its findings contributed to the development of the PADMICA Intercultural Preparation Module, which aims to support the development of intercultural competence among students participating in international mobility.
The study examines, across four chapters, the factors influencing the cultural adaptation of international students, the role of intercultural competence in this process, and the methods that can be used to support its development.
Main topics covered by the literature review:
- International Students and Mobility
The first chapter presents the situation of international students, with particular attention to the importance of preparation before mobility and support following students’ return home. - Cultural Adaptation and Acculturation
The second chapter reviews the literature on acculturation and the cultural adaptation of international students. It addresses, among other things, experiences during mobility and after returning home, as well as factors that may influence the different outcomes of studying abroad. - Intercultural Competence
The third chapter focuses on intercultural competence. It presents its key components and theoretical approaches, and reviews opportunities for its development and assessment, as well as development programmes aimed at international students. - Practical Recommendations for Intercultural Preparation
Drawing on the findings of the literature review, the fourth chapter provides practical recommendations for designing and implementing intercultural preparation programmes.
The literature review therefore not only helped establish a strong professional foundation for the PADMICA project, but also provides consolidated knowledge and practical insights that may be useful to professionals working at higher education institutions in the fields of international mobility and student support.
