Developing Intercultural Competence in Indonesian Students Through a Study Abroad Program: A Case Study of Intercultural Sensitivity at Coventry University, UK

Globalization has positioned intercultural competence as a key outcome of higher education, particularly for students participating in study abroad programs.This study investigates the intercultural sensitivity of Indonesian undergraduates at Coventry University, United Kingdom, within the 2024 IISMA cohort.Using a quantitative survey design, data were collected from 37 students through the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS) developed by Chen and Starosta [3], complemented by variables on pre-departure orientation, programme type, and English proficiency.Reliability and validity tests confirmed the ISS as a consistent and valid instrument (Cronbach's α = 0.896).Descriptive analysis indicated that students demonstrated a high level of intercultural sensitivity (M = 4.31, SD = 0.38).Mann-Whitney U test results revealed a significant difference between students who attended pre-departure orientation and those who did not (U = 0.000, p < 0.001, r = 0.85).Conversely, the Kruskal-Wallis H test showed no significant differences in intercultural sensitivity across programme types (p = 0.149), and English proficiency could not be tested due to sample homogeneity.The findings highlight the pivotal role of structured orientation programs in fostering intercultural readiness, while academic program type is less influential.These results suggest that predeparture training should be prioritized to maximize intercultural learning outcomes in student mobility schemes.