Challenges and Opportunities in Cross-Cultural Education: A Comparative Study of Barcelona and Beijing Foreign Studies University

This study investigates the intercultural challenges faced by Chinese students in Catalonia’s higher education system and evaluates the applicability of Beijing Foreign Studies University's (BFSU) successful intercultural education model to Spanish universities. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines thematic analysis of qualitative interviews and quantitative survey data from Chinese students in Barcelona to identify key adaptation challenges, such as language barriers, cultural differences, and limited institutional support. Drawing insights from BFSU’s systematic curriculum design, faculty internationalization, and student engagement initiatives, the study provides actionable recommendations to improve cross-cultural education frameworks in Catalonia. The findings contribute to bridging gaps in intercultural education and promoting effective strategies for integrating international students, with implications for global educational policy and Sino-Western collaboration.