THE CULTURE DETECTIVES MODEL: AN EXPERIENTIAL APPROACH TO INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE
THE CULTURE DETECTIVES MODEL: AN EXPERIENTIAL APPROACH TO INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE

Summary/Abstract: This article explains the Culture Detectives Model for exploring cultural artifacts, designed for young people engaged in non-formal education within international projects funded by the INTERREG Romania-Bulgaria and Erasmus+ programs. The model aims to enhance the intercultural awareness of participants from different national backgrounds who come together in an unfamiliar cultural environment. Additionally, it seeks to foster deep cultural empathy and respect for human rights. The article explores the academic foundations of the model, including Hofstede’s concepts and the Integrated Process Model of Intercultural Competence, developed by Bebenova-Nikolova. It then discusses the pillars of the Culture Detectives Model and presents its structural stages in a Table. The Culture Detectives Model has been successfully tested in non-formal education settings with approximately 100 young participants in INTERREG Romania-Bulgaria and Erasmus+ projects, yielding positive results. The application of such an educational program confirms that intercultural experiences have the potential not only to help participants live and work more effectively and appropriately in diverse cultural contexts but also to lead to deep, transformative, and meaningful learning.

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