Analyzing intercultural competence among Erasmus students

Abstract

This study examines intercultural competence among students participating in an Erasmus mobility program at higher education institutions across Europe(primarily Portugal, Spain, and Finland). The study adopts a quantitative approach based on an intercultural competence scale. It explores how intercultural competence varies according to both personal characteristics (gender, nationality, field of study, and travel frequency) and students’ perceptionsof their attitudes across multiple domainsvia Mann‒Whitney and Kruskal‒Wallistests. Moreover, the study seeks to examine correlations between intercultural competence and integration experiences, as well as between intercultural competence and the impact of the Erasmus program on the host community, usingSpearman's tests. Statistically significant differences across groups and correlations between variables are identified whenever they exist. The findings are particularly valuable for educators, policymakers, and tourism professionals when designing programsand initiatives to foster intercultural learning and exchange.