Cross-cultural communication training for future engineers - A model developed at the Kazan National Research Technological University to prepare students for mobility programs and the global market place

Abstract

The paper addresses preparation of engineering students for the global market. The following issues are discussed: the most important attributes of academic mobility; cross-cultural competence as a determinant of successful global professional communication; experience of the Kazan National Research Technological University (Russia) in cross-cultural competence development. Academic mobility is considered as a social phenomenon and as a personal quality, an integral unity of four basic components: cognitive, communicative, pragmatist and reflexive. Within cross-cultural competence we point out motivational, cognitive, personal, and communicative/behavioral components. National Universities in Russia intensify efforts to integrate into the global academic community. There is still a plurality of problems regarding mobility, second language fluency and cross-cultural competence. In this paper we propose introducing an additional degree (Russian equivalent to the Western minor degree) as one of the tools for preparation of students for mobility programs. Results of cross-cultural training are presented and discussed.