Reflections on Interculturality in Relation to Education and Work

Overview & Synopsis

Internationalization and intercultural education may be contradictory concepts as the former supports globalization of the economy and the latter explains mutual learning and intercultural understanding. Higher education is preparing planners, leaders, managers, administrators, policy-makers and teachers to societies. Are pedagogical approaches of higher education inspiring students to become aware of social processes such as multiculturalism and interculturalism? Higher education includes beliefs and explanations that reveal how far diversity is being valued. A choice of critical pedagogy, that is considering the entire society, world order and different groups of societies, is discussed. The concepts of multiculturalism, intercultural education and intercultural competence are compared and analysed. This article will discuss the contexts and concepts of multi-/intercultural education and intercultural competence in relation to education and work. A pedagogical approach that can sensitize persons to recognize political powers and multicultural potentials in societies is introduced.