<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Based on recent findings that highlight the strong links between creativity and interculturality, we will attempt to establish a relationship between intercultural experiences and creativity within the context of international university exchanges in order to propose specific courses of action for improving these skills. The methodology used is based on a quasi-experimental design for a sample of 303 university students from a Spanish university. Data were obtained from a survey that measured creativity with two different instruments (RIBS-s and Divergent Thinking), English proficiency, and intercultural experiences abroad. Results show a strong relationship between creativity and intercultural experiences, suggesting that those students who lived abroad and in a higher number of foreign countries are more creative. Additionally, the most significant differences appear when we establish a comparison between those students who have not lived abroad and those who have done so in more countries, which contributes to highlighting the close relationship between interculturality and creativity. Of special significance is the strong link found between English proficiency and having experiences abroad, suggesting that when the level of a shared international language, English in this case, is higher, there will be more options to increase students’ creativity. Likewise, students who have a higher level of English are more creative. Designing programs for higher education students that combine and integrate foreign language skills, creativity, and interculturality appear to be essential. Thanks to foreign language skills, students will be in a better position to acquire intercultural sensitivity and improve their creativity, making their international experience a valued source of fulfilment both for their personal life and their career.</p></abstract>

Based on recent findings that highlight the strong links between creativity and interculturality, we will attempt to establish a relationship between intercultural experiences and creativity within the context of international university exchanges in order to propose specific courses of action for improving these skills. The methodology used is based on a quasi-experimental design for a sample of 303 university students from a Spanish university. Data were obtained from a survey that measured creativity with two different instruments (RIBS-s and Divergent Thinking), English proficiency, and intercultural experiences abroad. Results show a strong relationship between creativity and intercultural experiences, suggesting that those students who lived abroad and in a higher number of foreign countries are more creative. Additionally, the most significant differences appear when we establish a comparison between those students who have not lived abroad and those who have done so in more countries, which contributes to highlighting the close relationship between interculturality and creativity. Of special significance is the strong link found between English proficiency and having experiences abroad, suggesting that when the level of a shared international language, English in this case, is higher, there will be more options to increase students’ creativity. Likewise, students who have a higher level of English are more creative. Designing programs for higher education students that combine and integrate foreign language skills, creativity, and interculturality appear to be essential. Thanks to foreign language skills, students will be in a better position to acquire intercultural sensitivity and improve their creativity, making their international experience a valued source of fulfilment both for their personal life and their career.

Creativity and Intercultural Experiences: The Impact of University International Exchanges

Creativity. Theories – Research - Applications

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Based on recent findings that highlight the strong links between creativity and interculturality, we will attempt to establish a relationship between...

Creativity and Intercultural Experiences: The Impact of University International Exchanges

Published Online: Jan 26, 2021

Page range: 321 - 345

Received: Sep 01, 2020

Accepted: Dec 13, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ctra-2020-0017

Keywords
Creativity, Multiculturalism, Intercultural experiences, Interculturality, Foreign language proficiency, Higher education

© 2020 Elena De Prada et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Creativity and Intercultural Experiences: The Impact of University International Exchanges

Published Online: Jan 26, 2021

Page range: 321 - 345

Received: Sep 01, 2020

Accepted: Dec 13, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ctra-2020-0017

KeywordsCreativity, Multiculturalism, Intercultural experiences, Interculturality, Foreign language proficiency, Higher education

© 2020 Elena De Prada et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Creativity, Multiculturalism, Intercultural experiences, Interculturality, Foreign language proficiency, Higher education