Intercultural competences: pedagogical prespectives

The term “intercultural competence” is one of the most commonly used terms in the research literature. It is presented as “transversal” as it represents a set of requisites necessary in complex situations and in particular in working with migrants, constituting the indispensable wealth of resources to train education professionals - and not only - to meet with cultural differences. The numerous analyses carried out by researchers identify many indispensable qualities such as: the ability to relativise, curiosity, openness, respect, recognition of the other’s point of view, flexibility. Consistent with most scholars, it is possible to conceive intercultural competence as the ability to effectively and appropriately interact in an intercultural situation or context. Training in intercultural competence is not only necessary for professional figures called to deal with cultural diversity, but also for all individuals who experience intercultural relations in their daily life. Intercultural competence can be a mainstay in the process of identity disintegration that individuals face today, because it urges them, through the analysis of the relationship with the other, to reflect on themselves. This competence also provides the ability to interpret the current complex social systems, because intercultural relations are placed in the more general framework of economic, political, religious, demographic and ecological relations.