Developing global graduates: essentials and possibilities

Abstract

Developing intercultural communication competence (ICC) is a pursuit that has captured the interest of researchers in several disciplines for a number of decades. The urgency and interest to produce graduates who are ready for the global marketplace has never been more prevalent amongst educators as it is today. This article outlines strategies for developing ICC based on prior research, and articulates a new framework for global graduates based on four understandings: understanding of self, understanding of others, understanding of self’s responsibility to others, and understanding of others’ contributions to self. Curriculum development and institutional investment considerations are discussed in relation to the proposed framework.