Intercultural competence is [the ability] “to see relationships between different cultures – both internal and external to a society – and to mediate, that is interpret each in terms of the other, either for themselves or for other people.” It also encompasses the ability to critically or analytically understand that one’s “own and other cultures’” perspective is culturally determined rather than natural. – Byram, M.
Featuring experts in Intercultural Competence from across the U.S. and internationally, the Intercultural Competence Conference (ICC) is for K-16 educators and students in fields related to Foreign Languages, Social Sciences/Studies and the Humanities, and for others involved in government, NGOs, and the private sector who are interested in seeing and interpreting relationships between cultures. This biennial event brings together researchers and practitioners across languages, levels, and settings to discuss and share research, theory, and best practices, and to foster meaningful professional dialog on issues related to the development and assessment of Intercultural Competence, especially in a foreign or second language. It is hosted by the Center for Educational Resources in Culture, Language and Literacy (CERCLL) at the University of Arizona.
In 2024, the Ninth International Conference on the
Development and Assessment of Intercultural Competence
focuses on the theme of
Intercultural Learning, Global Citizenship and Peacebuilding
This hybrid event takes place February 22-25, 2024, at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona (USA), and online.
Plenary Presentations
Larisa Kasumagić Kafedžić, University of Sarajevo
Rebecca Oxford, University of Maryland
In 2015, The United Nations (UN) adopted a 2030 agenda, which included peace at its core. Based on this blueprint, the UN member states agreed to…
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Peacebuilding here is focused at the macrolevel of government actors and institutions, including educational organizations; however, work within language and culture education (e.g. Oxford et al, 2020) suggests that individuals, including those in conflict-ridden parts of the world, often cite inner and interpersonal dimensions of peace as central. What roles might intercultural learning play in fostering peace across and between these disparate levels? What might an intercultural education for peacebuilding that is cognizant of disparity and pain look like (see Bigelow, 2016; Porto & Zembylas, 2022)? What kinds of connections between intercultural peace and other dimensions including inner peace and ecological peace can our language curricula and programs help students to explore (see Oxford, 2017)?
The peer-reviewed proposals were asked to address these questions. Around 100 presentations have been accepted or invited for ICC 2024, with authors located at institutions in 30 countries and in 27 US states. Presentations include pre- and post-conference workshops (in-person only), papers (in-person and virtual), symposia (in-person and virtual), and posters (in-person and virtual). The Call for Proposals is closed, but can be reviewed here.
ICC 2024 takes place on the University of Arizona campus with Friday and Saturday events in the Health Sciences Innovation Building (1670 E Drachman St, Tucson, AZ 85721); events on Thursday and Sunday are at the Graduate hotel (930 E 2nd St, Tucson, AZ 85719). Lodging is at the Graduate ($259 plus taxes). For location and lodging information, click here. For registration details, click here. Full-time K12 teachers and graduate students can apply for a limited number of scholarships to attend this event. See the menu bar above for details about the presentations that will be on the schedule at this event.
To see information and recorded presentations from the prior ICC conferences, view previous conferences in the menu bar above, and ICC playlists on our YouTube channel.