An innovative pedagogical design of intercultural competence development in music teacher education

Abstract

This is the second part of the longitudinal inquiry, which serves as basis revealing peculiarities of developing intercultural competence of prospective music teachers at university. The article discusses the results of the action research. The action research aimed to define and (practically) verify the strategies as well as methods of the (self-) development of intercultural competence. The aforementioned competence is particularly significant to prospective music teachers considering current changes in global society and perception of culture and educational environment. The long-term action research was conducted in the period of 2014-2017 and the sample of the research included 60 foreign Master’s degree students, who chose studies at Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences (Music Education). The focus group discussion with participants in the process of education, music teacher educators, was used to analyse the research results. It showed that a highly significant role in development of intercultural competence is assigned to a higher education institution and internationalisation of a study programme. A targeted intercultural education is becoming a significant factor of intercultural competence improvement. The study confirmed that the strategies of the (self-) development of intercultural competence of prospective music teachers are efficient and successfully applicable in organising the (self-) development of intercultural competence of foreign students. The revealed educational preconditions make the basis for the development of intercultural competence of prospective music teachers. This study can be of interest to other researchers to further explore the possibilities of intercultural competence development at university.