Human potential development = Rozwój potencjału ludzkiego : An innovative trends and conclusions for XXI century: scientific monograph

Abstract

The article discusses perception of conceptions of multiculturalism and its importance for the development of intercultural competence of students, alumni and teaching staff. The interest in multiculturalism trends in the study and post-study process in Lithuania has arisen quite recently, meanwhile, the need for intercultural competence in the development of intercultural dimension is growing, because, due to the increase of interculturalism of the content of study programmes, academic exchange is more active and the experience gained is further developed at the alumni stage. The article analyses the approach of different scientists towards the phenomenon of interculturalism and means of development of intercultural competence. The aim of the research conducted by the authors in the IV quarter of 2013 is to identify the need of the academic community and alumni for the development of intercultural competence. The statements of this questionnaire provided for the respondents help to reveal the following: frequency of communication with foreign nationals, the respondents’ opinion on the development of their intercultural competence and the most common barriers which hinder the effective intercultural dialogue. The article proposes a hypothesis that the dynamics of intercultural communication is related to the respondents’ education, a hypothesis was confirmed, because respondents with a PhD communicate with foreign nationals more frequently (e.g., they go on business trips and internships abroad) in comparison with students, have more experiential skills and a much wider range of intercultural contacts.