Advancing Intercultural Competence in Higher Education: Strategies for Engaging Generation Z
This study examines how Japanese Generation Z, “digital natives” currently in higher education, engage in cross-cultural learning and develop global skills. In the modern digital era, encountering and studying international topics, cultures, and languages is no longer limited to the traditional phys...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Education Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/3/341 |
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| author | Aki Yamada |
| author_facet | Aki Yamada |
| author_sort | Aki Yamada |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines how Japanese Generation Z, “digital natives” currently in higher education, engage in cross-cultural learning and develop global skills. In the modern digital era, encountering and studying international topics, cultures, and languages is no longer limited to the traditional physical movement of people to acquire new experiences. We seek to investigate a modernized educational model for intercultural exchange, learning, and internationalization that emphasizes the technological information, platforms, and tools that the digital native generation uses daily. We use survey data from 123 Japanese higher-education students to investigate this subject and help reveal how they can operate and learn global skills in an increasingly digital landscape. Our findings indicate a strong desire to gain intercultural competence through digital sources, remote communications, and interactions with inbound international students. Digital information provides a significant opportunity for students to gain foundational international knowledge and competencies without the level of investment and limited accessibility of traditional study-abroad programs. We consider the pros and cons of integrating digital information into future academic endeavors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-db129b94a9da4a389e2324d2eee234f5 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-db129b94a9da4a389e2324d2eee234f52025-08-20T02:42:38ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022025-03-0115334110.3390/educsci15030341Advancing Intercultural Competence in Higher Education: Strategies for Engaging Generation ZAki Yamada0College of Arts and Sciences, Tamagawa University, Tokyo 194-8610, JapanThis study examines how Japanese Generation Z, “digital natives” currently in higher education, engage in cross-cultural learning and develop global skills. In the modern digital era, encountering and studying international topics, cultures, and languages is no longer limited to the traditional physical movement of people to acquire new experiences. We seek to investigate a modernized educational model for intercultural exchange, learning, and internationalization that emphasizes the technological information, platforms, and tools that the digital native generation uses daily. We use survey data from 123 Japanese higher-education students to investigate this subject and help reveal how they can operate and learn global skills in an increasingly digital landscape. Our findings indicate a strong desire to gain intercultural competence through digital sources, remote communications, and interactions with inbound international students. Digital information provides a significant opportunity for students to gain foundational international knowledge and competencies without the level of investment and limited accessibility of traditional study-abroad programs. We consider the pros and cons of integrating digital information into future academic endeavors.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/3/341intercultural educationdigital nativesmodernizing higher educationsocial media |
| spellingShingle | Aki Yamada Advancing Intercultural Competence in Higher Education: Strategies for Engaging Generation Z Education Sciences intercultural education digital natives modernizing higher education social media |
| title | Advancing Intercultural Competence in Higher Education: Strategies for Engaging Generation Z |
| title_full | Advancing Intercultural Competence in Higher Education: Strategies for Engaging Generation Z |
| title_fullStr | Advancing Intercultural Competence in Higher Education: Strategies for Engaging Generation Z |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancing Intercultural Competence in Higher Education: Strategies for Engaging Generation Z |
| title_short | Advancing Intercultural Competence in Higher Education: Strategies for Engaging Generation Z |
| title_sort | advancing intercultural competence in higher education strategies for engaging generation z |
| topic | intercultural education digital natives modernizing higher education social media |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/3/341 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT akiyamada advancinginterculturalcompetenceinhighereducationstrategiesforengaginggenerationz |