Integrated Orientation for Cross-Cultural Competency

Through Web-based instructional software and intercultural training techniques, this project sought to develop a new type of study abroad orientation, integrated with reentry programming, which explored culture-general themes to engender cross-cultural competence and an understanding of the intellectual underpinnings of the learning goals of study abroad.

This project provided logistical, safety, and financial information to all approved study abroad students. It also encouraged each student to assess his or her personal strengths, introduced adaptive skills for successful cross-cultural encounters, and fostered the notion that effective study abroad learning does not just happen by virtue of passively "being in the vicinity" of citizens of another culture.