Challenges In Cross-Cultural Business Education

Abstract

One of the most important and lasting legacies of the 20^th century is globalization and the increased integration among countries and economies leading to more interactions among the peoples of different cultures. This effect has also percolated into the business environment and into the realm of business education. We have seen the internationalization of the business curriculum, the creation of more study abroad programs for students, and the increased efforts towards exchange programs for educators. Conflicts in cross-cultural learning environments have been examined primarily from the perspective of the student, with limited research on the experiences of the teacher. We use Hofstedes (1980) cultural dimensions to identify the characteristics of teacher-student pairs from different cultures, explore the potential conflicts that may be created, and offer suggestions for developing strategies to be a globally competent teacher.