Ready for the World: Building Cultural Competence for Study and Work Abroad

Don’t just send students abroad, lets send them prepared to thrive.

Each year, tens of thousands of UK students embark on semester or year abroad programmes and international work placement, but too many arrive unprepared for the cultural realities they’ll face. The result? Missed opportunities, avoidable misunderstandings, and underwhelming outcomes.
This proposed interactive module, part workbook, part skills-assessment, will help students raise their aspirations, build cross-cultural communication skills, and gain confidence in navigating unfamiliar cultural contexts. The module will be engaging and practical, featuring short learning sections, reflective prompts, and quizzes delivered before, during, and after the placement to track learning gain. The experience can culminate in a certificate or other recognition of completion, boosting employability as well as academic success.

Why is it useful? It ensures students are culturally prepared, adaptable, and better equipped to succeed abroad; whether studying, interning, or working, reducing the significant impact of culture shock and increasing positive outcomes. Culture shock is responsible for a portion of failed placements and general attrition in global mobilities. Reducing the impact of this would be significant for many (if not all!) HEI's offering international placements of all kinds.

Who would benefit? Undergraduate and postgraduate students undertaking semester or year abroad placements for study, internships, or work. Possibly also for staff that are working or travelling internationally for teaching and research.

How should it work? Students complete an interactive, self-paced workbook with embedded quizzes, scenario-based exercises, and check-in points before, during, and after their time abroad. Progress is measured and recognised through certification or a digital badge.