Developing intercultural competencies in a PBL environment

This paper discusses the influences of international programs in a problem based, project and group work organized learning (PBL) environment on the development of intercultural competencies. Based on the discussion of the positive effects as well as the observed barriers in the educational practice of international programs, this paper suggests that PBL can be a good example of a supportive learning environment in terms of providing students opportunities to develop intercultural competences. However, in order to make the best of international programs as an intercultural learning context, it is important to 1) establish a shared understanding of ‘international’, based on which, new values and practices can be established instead of merely applying the established Danish ways of studying, 2) to bring about more awareness that international programs should be beneficial learning contexts in which students from different cultures can learn from each other and develop intercultural competencies together.