Intercultural competency among engineering doctoral students
Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education
ISSN: 2398-4686
Article publication date: 29 May 2020
Issue publication date: 17 July 2020
Abstract
Purpose
Although engineering doctoral students are at the forefront of discovery and innovation and have great potential for establishing partnerships to address engineering challenges crossing national borders, there are few studies of their intercultural competency. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that are associated with intercultural competency – the ability to work effectively in multicultural environments.
Design/methodology/approach
The intercultural competency levels of 390 engineering doctoral students were measured by using the Miville–Guzman Universality-Diversity Scale-Short Form (MGUDS-S). Data were analyzed using ordinary linear squares regression. Results are considered descriptive, rather than causal.
Findings
Results show that female engineering doctoral students are more likely to score higher on the MGUDS-S than male engineering doctoral students. Proficiency in multiple languages and previous work- or volunteer-related travel experiences are positively associated with doctoral students’ intercultural competency.
Originality/value
As internationalization of engineering research and innovation continues to expand, findings suggest that providing students with more opportunities and support for work- or volunteer-related travel and opportunities for learning new languages may help facilitate the development of intercultural competency and students’ willingness to engage in long-term international professional opportunities and research partnerships.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant number 1243490. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The authors thank the National Science Foundation for support, Matilde Sánchez-Peña and Lauren Denney for research assistance, and Ahmed Hassanein and Audeen Fentiman for their collaboration.
Citation
Main, J.B. and Wang, Y. (2020), "Intercultural competency among engineering doctoral students", Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 181-196. https://doi.org/10.1108/SGPE-06-2019-0058
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited