Promotion of engineering student competences in extra-curriculum activities
2011
Malinovska, L., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia)
The business environment in Latvia has become more dynamic and wider thus requiring from the young specialists besides their professional competences also knowledge not only in business communication, but also in cross-cultural communication, as these competences play an important role in international cooperation. This, in turn, determines the necessity for foreign language competences. At the Faculty of Engineering of the Latvia University of Agriculture, foreign languages are taught only in the first year. The number of sessions is too small to ensure successful development of the aforementioned competences. The ways are being searched for to help promote the competences in extra-curriculum activities and through Erasmus mobile exchange programs. The article gives an insight in the theory of communication and cross-cultural communication describing the role of foreign languages in these processes, as well as the influence of cultural differences and the ways to overcome difficulties, risk factors and barriers to make the process of cross-cultural communication fruitful. An enquiry was carried out among the students on the necessity of foreign language and cross-cultural communication skills for them to be able to participate in Erasmus programs and integrate in the labour market after graduation. Also the graduates – future employers of the students were interviewed to get their opinion on the competences their employees need for hiring them in their work places.
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