Intercultural development refers to the processes related to gaining knowledge, attitudes, and a skill set for navigating new cultural interactions. The combination of these traits is collectively referred to as intercultural competence (IC). Within higher education, the development of IC among university students has been an area of focus since the 1970s. IC development is commonly recognized as a desired component of postsecondary studies, necessary for preparing students for a globalized world. IC has traditionally been seen as resulting from international experiences, and much research comes from study abroad programs and foreign language teaching, as well as international business.

While there is some variation in the definition of IC; however, both administrators and scholars do agree upon some defining criteria; namely skills involving communication and behavior ...