Abstract:

The globalisation of economies, labour markets, knowledge, and communication affects all aspects of our life. The difference between the concepts of local and global is disappearing, because of the interdependence of nations. Higher education cannot shut out these realities since there is increasing pressure from all stakeholders to become more engaged internationally in these processes. In order to live up to these expectations, institutions of higher education have become engaged in an intensified mobility of ideas, students and academic staff, as well as collaborations and the global dissemination of knowledge.

The body of international students studying in Hungarian institutions of higher education in general and in the Budapest Business School, University of Applied Sciences in particular, is increasing year by year and the range of countries involved is significantly widening, especially in Asia. In order to provide a beneficial learning experience for both the Hungarian and the international students, it is important to develop their cultural intelligence. This is especially important in cases where cultures are significantly different from each other. Learning the roots of the various behaviours and mastering the skill of handling communication with members of disparate cultures will work towards international students’ regarding their stay useful and rewarding, and Hungarian students’ learning from the experience of working in international groups.
In this study we wish to examine the cultural intelligence level of our Hungarian as well as international students at present in order to incorporate the results into teaching materials to facilitate the students’ mutual development in cultural intelligence.

Keywords:

Cultural intelligence, internationalisation, higher educational institutions, measuring and developing cultural intelligence.