Online intercultural exchange: A case study in work and organisational psychology

ABSTRACT

Acquiring intercultural competences is critical in order to avoid prejudice and increase tolerance in the global workforce. This case study describes and evaluates a learning experience designed to develop intercultural competences. Cross-cultural leadership theories were incorporated into the syllabus of a Work and Organizational Psychology (WOP) course. Students applied these theories while gaining international exposure through Online Intercultural Exchanges (OIE). Students from the University of Valencia (Spain) and the University Centre of Brasília (Brazil) participated in the exchange. The sample was composed of 22 undergraduate psychology students who worked in international pairs to address cross-cultural leadership. Results showed that students gained knowledge about cross-cultural leadership, developed intercultural competences, and evaluated the learning experience as satisfactory. These findings encourage the use of OIE to incorporate cross-cultural aspects in WOP.

KEYWORDS:

• Online intercultural exchange
• cross-cultural leadership
• work and organisational psychology
• virtual exchange

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Universitat de València [UV-SFPIE_PID-1352870].

Notes on contributors

Inmaculada Silla

Inmaculada Silla is assistant lecturer in the Social Psychology Department at the University of Valencia. Her research interests are safety in high-reliability organisations, leadership, and organisational and safety culture.

Núria Tordera

Núria Tordera is a senior lecturer in the Social Psychology Department at the University of Valencia and member of the research group on Occupational health psychology. She is currently the local coordinator of the Erasmus Mundus Master in Work Organizational and Personnel Psychology at the University of Valencia.

Amalia Raquel Pérez-Nebra

Amalia Raquel Pérez-Nebra is a visiting lecturer in the Department of Business Administration at the University of Brasilia. Her research interests are employees’ well-being and the impact of media to prevent social problems. She is a member and was director of the Brazilian Society of Work and Organizational Psychology (SBPOT).