In 2021, Stop Asian Hate movements were launched in major US cities to advocate anti-Asian violence after a series of mass shootings. The news of hate crimes motivated me to obtain a further understanding about East Asian students within western higher education. This research focuses on unraveling the four stages of intercultural competence development among East Asian students participating in the East-West Center Education Program. Employing Dr. Darla Deardorff’s intercultural competence models, this study assesses resources provided by a research-based, government-funded think tank and their correlations to East Asian students' communication in Hawaii. Drawing upon the data collected from students from Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea, this research illuminates the role of the East-West Center in fostering intercultural competence. The findings have revealed key components that affect East Asian students’ development of openness, respect, self-awareness, deep cultural knowledge and empathy.

This ongoing study sheds light on the missions of think tanks in the face of the challenges posed by the pandemic and xenophobia, which also extends implications to strategic planning of the research-based organizations and their collaboration with western institutions. Educational institutions are suggested to implement targeted policies to support language-learning, financial aid service, community-building and social networking between East Asian students and students or stakeholders from different cultural backgrounds. Additionally, insights from this research could contribute to the formulation of housing rules, campus safety and education policies that better accommodate Confucianism-oriented cultural values in a cross-cultural housing system within western colleges.

Authors:
Tun-Jung Kuo, University of Hawaii at Manoa, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Ms Tun-Jung Kuo is a University Doctoral Student at University of Hawaii at Manoa in United States

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

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