Level of Intercultural Competence of International Students at Kocaeli University

The concept of intercultural competence has gained importance recent years because of some factors, such as globalization and technological improvements. This concept can be defined as an individual's ability to understand other cultures, and to be able to communicate easily with people from those cultures. In order for a person to be interculturally competent, s/he should have intercultural knowledge, attitude, skill and awareness. The aim of this study is to determine Kocaeli University's international students' level of intercultural competence. The population of this study consists of 650 international students in Kocaeli University. The sample of this study includes 230 international students chosen through convenience sampling method. This study is in descriptive survey model. As the data collection tool, "Intercultural Competence" scale developed by Fantini [11] is used. The scale was originally English. Before conducting the scale, researchers adapted it into Turkish. It has been found that international students' level of intercultural competence is high. Also it has been seen that international students' level of intercultural skills, intercultural attitude, intercultural knowledge and intercultural awareness, which are sub-dimensions of intercultural competence, are high. Moreover, it has been found out that the level of intercultural competence differs depending on whether international students got some information about Turkey before coming here, the continents in which international students' home countries are, and international students' level of Turkish language proficiency.