International education and intercultural competence

International education and intercultural competence We are all aware of our core value at BCB of being ambitious and having a growth mindset as being part of the group of 73 Nord Anglia Schools but the purpose of education is not just about the self but wider society. Intercultural competence is something that has come to the forefront of international education but what does this mean for our teachers, students and parents as part of the BCB community?

We are all aware of our core value at BCB of being ambitious and having a growth mindset as being part of the group of 73 Nord Anglia Schools but the purpose of education is not just about the self but wider society.

Intercultural competence is something that has come to the forefront of international education but what does this mean for our teachers, students and parents as part of the BCB community?

 

According to The Monash University Intercultural Lab (2021), ‘intercultural competence is the ability to function effectively across cultures, to think and act appropriately, and to communicate and work with people from different cultural backgrounds – at home or abroad. Intercultural competence is a valuable asset in an increasingly globalised world where we are more likely to interact with people from different cultures and countries who have been shaped by different values, beliefs and experiences’.

 

 

In a world where conflict is seemingly only just around the corner and intolerance is on the rise then this concept is paramount. Over the summer at The European Championships (football) it was painfully clear that over the last 18 months of lockdown that British Society has suffered at the hands of social media when everyone was forced to stay indoors and be socially disconnected in the conventional sense of the word. The algorithms at play had seemingly  further polarised a society that was already divided enough after Brexit. The evidence for this was the racist chanting and apparent intolerance for racial equality in and around the football stadiums. Now not to appear political, returning to intercultural competence it is important to understand firstly that the most important aspect is awareness and that is of one's own cultural identity. What makes us who we are?

 

Once we are able to begin to understand and eventually define who we are then the other three aspects can be explored.

 

 

 

It is exactly here and why at BCB we are an IB world school which has a curriculum that covers the three dimensions of conceptual understanding which facilitates the development of attitudes, the ability to communicate in an effective way (and in more than one language) and finally skills which are the ability to understand through critical thinking.

 

So take a moment to reflect on what this all means to you and the various communities to which you belong, BCB being a key one.