Exploring and assessing cross-cultural sensitivity in Bosnian tertiary education: Is there a real promise of harmonious coexistence?

Abstract

The aim of this research was to examine how university type, nationality, GPA, gender and grade level affect the cross-cultural sensitivity of students at tertiary level of education in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The revised and updated Inventory of Cross-Cultural Sensitivity (ICCSv2) was utilized for data collection. It contains four subscales: cultural inclusion, cultural behavioral integration, cultural anxiety, and cognitive flexibility. The representative sample consists of 219 students. The results have shown that university type, GPA and nationality have a significant effect on the development of cross-cultural sensitivity, while gender and students' grade level do not appear to have a significant impact on cross-cultural sensitivity. The results suggest that university along with its peculiar properties has a significant influence on shaping students' cross-cultural development. The major implication of the study is that some aspects of cross-cultural sensitivity can be developed further in the university milieu and through curriculum adjustment.