Enhancing Cross-Cultural Competence Among Students In An Effort To Fill The Skills Gap In The European Labor Market

Goal –The purpose of this paper is to present the methodology of the research project concerning an international mobility program conducted among 5 European universities. Methodology – The project presents a methodological approach in two stages so as to discuss the appropriateness and validity of assumptions and research methods we applied. The aim of this research is to investigate the results of specific experiences as part of an exchange program on CCC development among European students. The subject of this research will be a group of 45 students representing 5 European universities who will visit these universities every 3 months for 1 week during a two-year mobility program. Findings – In the first stage of our research, we found that the graduates’ competence, in the employers’ telling, do not match the expectations of the labor market. To the most deficient competencies among graduates are the following soft skills: communication and interpersonal skills, working in multicultural teams, negotiation skills and cross-cultural competence. Originality of the research – We will focus the discussion on specific components of cross-cultural competence such as skills, attitudes and knowledge which are key requirements of the European labor market. Our research project will develop a multi-range research framework for building various mobility programs addressed to students who aim to develop when it comes to their international career.