INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE: BRIDGING THE INTERSECTORAL GAP

The concept of intercultural competence (IC further in the text) is a debated notion that gained particular importance in recent years with changes in society which, though undergoing a process of globalization, still fosters increasing diversity with possible clashes of cultures. In that sense, IC would be a product of the intercultural learning process as it represents "a complex of abilities needed to perform effectively and appropriately when interacting with others who are linguistically and culturally different from oneself" [1]. IC includes knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding intercultural contexts and situations. However, the development and practical implications of the concept are done in three silos of knowledge and experience: industry, universities and the NGO sector. The problem is that developments are happening for the most part without interaction and exchange of knowledge. These three sectors primarily focus on different aspects of IC. Nevertheless, these developments are not linking together. This paper presents an overview of findings and approaches regarding IC in these three sectors. The concept of IC is seen from three perspectives using the diverse experience of the researchers taking part in the study: IC in higher education, IC in non-formal education and IC in organisations. The paper proposes ways forward in integrating the research and development in training and bridging the intersectoral knowledge gap in order to foster a platform for innovative and effective approaches to IC.