Investigating Causality between Global Experience and Global Competency for Undergraduates in Contemporary China’s Higher Education: A Transformative Learning Theory Perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the causal relationship between global experience and global competency from a transformative learning theory perspective. China society is becoming more and more linguistically and culturally diverse in a global context.  Moreover, Chinese students should be knowledgeable about the international issues to successfully communicate with others in a global world. Hence, in this study, causal inference analysis was used to identify the relations between global experience and global competency methodologically. Cross-cultural experience is essential to enhance students’ global competency. Therefore, investigating the relationship between global experience and global competency is significant to develop pedagogical assessments. This study found that the global experience is associated with global competence. Therefore, providing sufficient intercultural opportunities and sustainable funding supports are fundamental for HEIs to improve global competency in contemporary Chinese higher education system.