Systems of Intercultural Communication among University Students in Southern Ethiopia: The Case of Dilla and Hawassa Universities

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the system of intercultural communication among university students. Specifically, it examined the extent of cultural differences that determine the students’ intercultural communication, explored factors (internal and external) affecting effective intercultural communication, and evaluated intercultural communication sensitivity level of university students and the contribution of education and intercultural experience to create conducive campus environment. The Federal Government of Ethiopia has been investing large sum of money for the expansion and establishment of public universities. In the last five years, the number of higher public institutions has increased by twelve, which enables the country to have a total of twenty-three public universities and this, in turn, increased the capacity of students’ enrolment in universities as well. This effort shows that the Ethiopian Government gives much attention to the higher education centers. This mere expansion of education doesn’t guarantee its contribution to national scenario unless we educate students to manage conflicting situations among themselves. Universities are ideal centers that mirror the existence of diversified people from different ethno-linguistics, socio-economic and religious backgrounds. Nonetheless, nowadays, it is common to see universitybased conflicts among students of different ethnic, religious, and socio-political backgrounds. The research tried to answer the following questions: Do students recognize cultural differences during their interaction with students from different cultural backgrounds? If so, how do they act? What are the roles of in-campus and out-campus experiences influencing the students’ intercultural communication? How do university leadership and staff manage cultural diversity? In the study, research methods and/or techniques such as observation, structured and unstructured interviews as well as FGDs were used to collect relevant data using checklist, structured questionnaire, and interview guide were employed as research instruments to collect primary data from different sources