Strategic Studies Of Youth Intercultural Competences Development In Europe

In light of the national rejuvenation in this globalized age,it has become critical important for China to let the world understand and recognize the development in China both in the past and future.At present,the Road and Belt Initiative and the strategy of education opening-up are requiring an increasing number of talents who are familiar with international rules and regulations and capable of facilitating the communication and understanding between China and the world.Intercultural competences,which include a deep understanding of Chinese and foreign cultures,critical thinking and intercultural coordination ability,are therefore indispensably needed by the talents of China's strategic development.However,a lack of attention paid to the cultivation of intercultural competences can be found both in the policy documents representing top-level design and in everyday educational practice.Besides,research in intercultural competences also deserves more attention by researchers in areas in addition to linguistics and communication.Intercultural competences research is still in its starting stage in education research.Contrary to the reality in China,Europe has given strategic importance to the cultivation of intercultural competences to facilitate both European and global development.Strategic plans have been carefully designed,followed by the implementation of education and youth schemes.The European thinking and practice are of great importance to China.Given the significance of this research topic to both national strategy and educational research,this dissertation,based on the perspective and analytic framework of strategy studies,takes a varied methodology including literature review,comparative study and questionnaire to analyze the European understanding of intercultural competences and the strategic background,thoughts,plans and practices in the cultivation of intercultural competences.Meanwhile,with the help of European experience summarized,this dissertation also expects to shed light on the cultivation of intercultural competences in China based on the empirical studies of the situation and problem in Chinese higher education.Chapter 1 comprehensively describes and analyzes research questions and design and Chapter 2 defines the connotation and framework of intercultural competences universally recognized in Europe.After that,Chapters 3-6 respectively elaborate on and analyze the general background and historical development,strategic thoughts and plans,strategic practice and assessment of the cultivation of intercultural competences in Europe.The last part is given to the empirical study of China's reality,aiming at understanding the current level of intercultural competences of the youth representative in Shanghai,and the situation and problems of the educational practice in higher education.Combining China's reality and the successful European experience carefully chosen,this dissertation tries to offer feasible suggestions and action plan.This dissertation takes the view that the youth are the principal subjects of intercultural competences cultivation.The findings of the empirical study reveal that there exist problems both in Chinese youths' intercultural competences and in education system.Therefore,the cultivation of young people's intercultural competences should be included in national strategy and educational policy.Besides,special training through curriculum is needed in order to complement practical experience.This means the traditional non-formal education of intercultural competences should be combined with the curriculum in formal school education.Thirdly,the national and social standpoint against cultural and racial discrimination should be reflected in the process of intercultural competences to avoid the risk of cultural stereotypes and racism.Therefore,in-time assessment is needed in the process of intercultural competences education.