Intercultural Action Competence Tool

Background In today’s interconnected world there is a high societal need for IAC to empower people to cooperate across cultures, recognize non-formal learning that is a fundamental force for IAC, and facilitate purposeful cooperation in a globalized economy International youth exchanges are crucial for a future of peace and freedom. Mobility programs supported by Erasmus+ have played a significant role in this success story! The number of participants has been increasing year by year, and the inclusion of people from all walks of life has made them a valuable tool for promoting the ideals of the European Union and the principles of active European citizenship. By their very definition, each international youth mobility includes an element of intercultural communication, which makes them a perfect training ground for the development of intercultural action competence (IAC). However, this valuable form of learning often occurs implicitly and the learning progress in this field is not properly evaluated and recognized. InterACT project was conceived and applied for in the Erasmus+ framework to address this issue. Objectives InterACT aimed to address the following needs: a. Making intercultural learning explicit & measurable: Youth needs both tools & an engaging framework to understand, assess & validate their IAC learning, in order to get better prepared for intercultural experiences & able to use these skills in daily life. b. Integration of IAC into youth work: Youth workers require simple tools to integrate IAC into mobility projects, to increase the impact & recognition of their activities c. Bridge between formal & non-formal learning: Formal education provides a foundation for intercultural competence, but genuine understanding requires experiential, non-formal learning. True intercultural competence is not something that can be fully achieved through simple memorization of facts; instead, it must be cultivated, felt, & internalized on a subconscious level, involving the development of attitudes & skills. Therefore, InterAct aimed to bridge this gap, by providing a validation tool that helps youngsters recognize & articulate their learning from international projects. d. Policy support & funding: Policymakers need to become better aware of the need to promote IAC & support intercultural learning initiatives in their communities, schools, etc Implementation The InterACT project consisted of five work packages: WP1: Project management, including partner meetings (TPMs & online). WP2: Development of the web app (IO1), which divides IAC into measurable learning objectives in the cognitive, behavioral, and attitudinal dimensions. This allows young people to adopt a comprehensive approach to actively monitor, practice, and validate their intercultural learning journey. WP3: Development of the handbook (IO2) for youth workers, consisting of tools, examples, and best practices for incorporating IAC into international mobility projects. Video interviews with experienced youth worker professionals providing insights into InterACT were also produced, along with an online reflection questionnaire for youth workers. WP4: Development of the policy papers (IO3) with examples, best practices, research summaries, and recommendations for promoting IAC. WP5: Dissemination and visibility of the results through a project website, social media, and local multiplier events for youth workers, decision-makers, and media representatives. Finally, all project results were translated into the partner countries' languages. Achievements The main outcome of the project was the development of a method for assessing the Intercultural Action Competence (IAC) of participants in international mobility programs. Specifically, the following outputs were produced: For young people, a web app (IO1) was developed to help them gain a better understanding of interculturality during youth exchanges through simple questions and answers. The app is divided into three phases: before, during, and after a mobility, and it measures IAC along three dimensions: "cognitive," "behavioral," and "attitudinal." For youth workers, a handbook (IO2) was developed to support them in integrating IAC into their projects and mobility activities. It includes theoretical foundations, practical examples, and non-formal methods to promote IAC. An accompanying video series explains how to use the app and the handbook. A policy paper (IO3) was developed to inform decision-makers about the importance of IAC and emphasize the promotion of international youth work. It contains arguments regarding the relevance of IAC in the job market and the role of youth work in society. These results are available for free in the six partner languages on the KulturLife project website.