A Comparative Study of Intercultural and Global Competency Opportunities on American and Irish University Campuses

The lack of intercultural competencies among students in higher education is one of the most significant issues facing higher education and society in general. As institutions of higher education embark on the journey of embracing the increasingly diverse student populations, some universities have revamped university mission statements to reflect their support for “creating and maintaining” a diverse student population and for graduating interculturally competent students. This study compared reports from the three participating universities (one university in the United States and two in Ireland) on four different variables regarding student diversity, student participation in study abroad programs, types of study abroad programs offered, and types of intercultural programs available to students. Implications and suggestions for further research are discussed. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.