Making talk work: using a dialogic approach to develop intercultural competence with students at an Australian university

Despite clear claims that higher education institutions prepare graduates for a world that is increasingly globalised, diverse and interconnected, how best to develop intercultural competence in places of learning is less clear. Drawing focus to a purpose-built intercultural programme, this paper explores the development of intercultural competence within a group of culturally diverse students at a regional Australian university. Eight students participated in a series of forums that were guided by a dialogic approach to facilitate discussion around cross-cultural topics. Through a fine-grained qualitative analysis of interviews and reflections, students were found to develop a deeper self-awareness and understanding of others’ views and reported better seeing themselves in a global context. The programme also promoted greater individual awareness around adjusting communication skills to relate to others, and students reflected on what it might mean to interact in a broader global society. This paper highlights the value of intentionally promoting cross-cultural interactions in higher education learning spaces and offers a dialogic approach as a way forward for universities to produce globally ready students.