International internships as the instrument for enhancement of academic mobility of students of higher educational institutions

Abstract

This study aims to detect the influence of international internships on the academic mobility of students of higher educational institutions, as well as their professional development and intercultural integration. Survey method, Intercultural Competence Scale, Career Readiness Competencies (NACE), engagement of focus groups, as well as statistical methods such as t-test, χ²-test and correlation analysis were used in the study. The results showed that international internships significantly influence the development of the core competencies. In particular, the average score for communicative skills increased from 3.9 to 4.6 after participation in the internship, for critical thinking — from 3.8 to 4.5, and for teamwork — from 3.7 to 4.4.