Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Interculturality and cultural intelligence in an academic context: A report from university staff interacting with nursing students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Nematullah Shomoossi
. Akbar Ahmadi Asor 1
. Mohsen Kooshan 2
. Mostafa Rad 3

1 Department of Occupational Hygiene, School of Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences

2 Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences

3 Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iranian Research Center on Healthy Aging, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The cultural diversity of ethnic groups in Iranian academic contexts highlights the
importance of enhancing cultural awareness and minimizing cultural conflicts. Therefore, the present
study aimed to investigate the intercultural intelligence of the university personnel in interacting with
students.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross‑sectional study was a correlational research conducted
on 136 employees in Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The participants were selected
by randomized clustered sampling. The data on intercultural intelligence were collected using Earley
and Ang’s Questionnaire and were analyzed in SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics.
RESULTS: Mean score of intercultural intelligence in the education‑research staff, secretarial staff,
and student‑cultural staff was 41 ± 9, 35.6 ± 8.3, and 44.2 ± 7.7, respectively. ANOVA showed
a significant difference in the overall scores of intercultural intelligence across the three groups
(P = 0.001); the scores of subsections were also statistically different, the student‑cultural staff showing
higher intelligence scores than the other groups. Furthermore, the overall intercultural intelligence
scores varied significantly across the participants’ educational levels so that the score of the staff with
bachelor’s degree was 37.8 ± 8.7 and those with master’s degree was 45 ± 7.8 (P = 001), especially
in their metacognitive and cognitive subsection scores.
CONCLUSION: The scores of intercultural intelligence were moderate to low in the staff of different
working sections of the university. Moreover, the level of education shows impacts on intercultural
encounters in this academic setting. The results highlight the need to develop programs in order to
raise intercultural understanding in staff.

Keywords

Cultural awareness
cultural intelligence
intercultural
university personnel
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 9, Issue 4
April 2019
Pages 1-6

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