The Intercultural Competence of Chinese Undergraduate Students Studying in Germany in the Context of Post-COVID-19 Pandemic: An Empirical Report from a Double-First-Class University in Shanghai

The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has exerted impacts on the intercultural competence of Chinese undergraduate students studying abroad. Based on Zheng et al.’s developmental framework of intercultural competence of university students, this study conducted a questionnaire survey among students from Class 2017 and Class 2018 from a double-first-class university in Shanghai who continued their undergraduate studies in Germany. It explored the status quo of this student cohort’s intercultural competence in the post-COVID-19 context and the new changes as compared to that before. Also, it analyzed the possible reasons for such gaps and the issues concerning the improvement of their intercultural competence that they encountered in the post-COVID-19 period. Furthermore, it discussed the coping strategies and provided constructive thoughts and implementation pathways for the cultivation of intercultural competence of future Chinese students who intend to study abroad.