Beyond the Classroom: Everyday Interculturality, Intranational Diversity, and Intercultural Competence in Higher Education

Abstract

This mixed-methods study examines how everyday intercultural interactions among conational university students with diverse cultural backgrounds shape intercultural competence in higher education. Conducted at Universidad Salvadoreña Alberto Masferrer, the research combines a survey of 387 students with one focus group and expert interviews. Findings reveal both barriers and opportunities: (1) unconscious biases, regional stereotypes, and divergent communication styles (e.g., tone of voice, idiomatic expressions, greeting practices) fuel misunderstandings and social fragmentation; (2) 54% of respondents perceive insufficient institutional training in intercultural competence; and (3) 68% report that contact with cultural diversity strengthens empathy, critical thinking, and personal growth, particularly within informal spaces (cultural fairs, co-/extracurricular activities, and peer interaction beyond the classroom). The study shifts attention from international mobility toward localized, intranational interculturality, providing evidence for the formative value of informal learning spaces and informing the Internationalization at Home agenda. We recommend prioritizing intercultural competence as an institutional and pedagogical objective through inclusion policies, co-curricular design, and faculty development that transform everyday interactions into equitable learning opportunities.