University Students’ Motivation for Intercultural Competence: A Case Study of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan)

An emergent interest in cultivating intercultural competence in wake of enduring internationalization of the world has generated a pressing demand for investigation of variable exerting impact on fostering intercultural competence. However, limited research on this phenomenon in the context of Pakistan creates space for further investigation about academic context in Pakistan. Resultantly, the current paper intended to investigate the interplay between motivation and gender, and their respective influence on fostering intercultural competence. The researcher employed quantitative research design. A 10-statement questionnaire was employed to collect data on 5-point Likert scale from 52 undergraduates (female = 51%; male = 49%) from a university in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The results revealed that the treatment boosted their enthusiasm for future intercultural education. The female partakers manifested higher motivation level than their male counterparts on certain question. However, the difference was not found to be significant. The conclusions suggest some implications for educators, policy makers, curriculum designers, and material developers.