DEVELOPING INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE OF IT PROFESSIONALS IN INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

Olena Ivanivna Stepanenko,

Email: olena.stepanenko@knu.ua

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0598-6473

PhD in Pedagogy, Associate Professor

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

Oksana Mykolaivna Krasnenko,

Email: o.krasnenko@knu.ua

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9758-3801

PhD in Pholology, Associate Professor

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/StudLing2026.28.100-109

PDF  (UKRAINIAN)

ABSTRACT

In the context of increasing internationalization and digitalization of higher education, the development of intercultural competence has become a critical objective, particularly for students in globally oriented fields such as Information Technology. This study examines the role of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) in fostering intercultural competence among students engaged in international virtual collaboration. The research combines a literature review with empirical data collected from participants involved in a COIL project connecting students from Ukraine, Colombia, and Chile. The findings demonstrate that structured online intercultural collaboration significantly enhances students’ confidence in cross-cultural communication, openness to diverse perspectives, and ability to work in international teams. Notably, 93% of participants reported increased confidence in interacting with individuals from different cultural backgrounds, while 100% expressed willingness to participate in similar projects in the future. At the same time, the study identifies key challenges, including time zone differences, communication barriers, and uneven participation levels, which highlight the importance of pedagogical design and facilitation. The results confirm that intercultural competence development is not an automatic outcome of international interaction but requires purposeful task design, guided reflection, and structured support. The study contributes to the growing body of research on virtual internationalization by providing empirical evidence of COIL effectiveness and offering practical recommendations for integrating intercultural learning into digitally mediated educational environments.

Keywords: intercultural competence, COIL, virtual exchange, international collaboration, higher education, IT students, digital learning.

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