Regardless of which side of the political debate you’re on, Brexit has undeniably impacted the country’s social and political landscape, none more so that in the HE sector. One of these major impacts is the change in where our international students come from. According to some reports there has been a 53% drop in students from the EU (2021-2022), accompanied by a steep rise in students coming from non-EU countries. In fact, for the year ending September 2022, there were 463,315 sponsored study visas granted. This is the highest annual number of study visas granted on record. A deeper dive into the stats reveals that the majority of these non-EU students come from China, followed by India and Nigeria.
With an ever increasing diversity within our student population, the importance of cultural competency has never been more critical, for both university staff and the students themselves. But what do we mean by cultural competence?
Cultural competency (also known as cultural intelligence or intercultural competence) is the ability to understand, respect, and effectively communicate with people from different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. It is an essential skill for anyone working in a multicultural environment or engaging with people from different ethnic, religious, or linguistic backgrounds.
Within the HE sector specifically, cultural competency, is becoming increasingly important for universities as they seek to prepare students to meet the social values and academic expectations that are so vital to their ability to reach their potential, integrate well and get the most out of their time at university.
With the increase in tuition fees for international students, students are ever-more aware of their status as consumers and want to see an ROI for their investment into their degrees. This means that in order to survive in a competitive marketplace, universities need to ensure they fulfil their role in providing an excellent education in an environment that is welcoming, inclusive and takes cultural values into account in order to assist student learning.
Not only therefore, is it important that staff are trained in how to increase their cultural competency when relating to students, but also that there is adequate support for international students to learn what is expected of them whilst living and studying in the UK. This can range from the general, such as British social customs and traditions, to more specific aspects such as attitudes towards religion, gender and race, academic standards and timekeeping.
Aside from the obvious advantages that better integration and familiarity with British culture and educational expectations brings, cultural competency can bring with it a plethora of gains to British students and staff too, for example:
- Avoiding Cultural Misunderstandings: A lack of cultural competence can lead to misunderstandings, miscommunications, and even conflicts. This can be particularly problematic in a multicultural society like the UK, where people from different cultures and backgrounds may hold different values and beliefs. By understanding cultural differences, individuals can avoid cultural misunderstandings and build stronger relationships with people from different backgrounds.
- Building Trust: Cultural competence is essential for building trust with individuals and communities from different cultures. Trust is essential in maintaining healthy relationships and creating effective partnerships.
- Preparing Students for a Globalised World: In today’s interconnected world, people from different cultures are coming together in business, politics, science, and other areas. Universities have a responsibility to prepare students for this reality by providing them with the skills to work and communicate effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds. This includes understanding cultural differences, adapting communication styles, and being aware of cultural biases.
- Enhancing the Learning Experience: Cultural competency also enhances the learning experience for students. Exposure to different cultures, perspectives, and experiences helps students broaden their thinking and develop a more nuanced understanding of the world. This, in turn, can lead to greater creativity, innovation, and problem-solving abilities.
- Improving International Relations: Universities also play a critical role in promoting international understanding and cooperation. By promoting cultural competency, universities can foster better international relations by promoting greater understanding, collaboration, and empathy across different cultures.
In summary therefore, in order to remain competitive, inclusive and relevant in an increasingly globalised student marketplace, the HE sector needs to respond appropriately to the challenges and opportunities presented by the changing nature of the international student community.
About the author: Tamar Elderton-Welch is Head of Instructional Design at Marshall E-Learning, a specialist provider of diversity and inclusion e-learning, training, and consultancy. We work with organisations in all sectors because no one can be complacent when it comes to inclusion! Our courses and resources include: Let’s talk about race, unconscious bias, allyship, inclusive leadership, and modules on cultural competency for staff and for students. We are always interested to know how we can support both existing and new university clients, so do get in touch if you’d like to explore how we can help you.
For more information, please visit us at www.marshallelearning.com