Educational Alternatives, Volume 17, 2019

Abstract: Globalization brings people from different cultures together for different purposes. This close interaction creates global diversity and challenges local identities. This scenario requires people to learn to gain intercultural competence and work collaboratively. Educators in many parts of the world have acknowledged their role in that process. The idea is to socialise youth in contemporary society by offering opportunities for the development of intercultural communication competencies in higher education. This case study describes and analyzes a program of intercultural volunteerism offered at a private university in Brazil for its students has sought to address the need to better prepare professionals and citizens for contemporary society. This program is based on scholarships for promising international students, follows excellence practices, has involved 600 university students in 4 years in 12 countries. One of the visible results has been the application of intercultural competencies and involvement of those students in follow up projects.