Global Competence Accelerator - University of Houston
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Accelerate your global learning

Join the Global Competence Accelerator, designed to enhance student global competence at UH and beyond. This program, centered around Cultural Intelligence (CQ) assessments and actionable steps, offers students a unique opportunity to connect their various global experiences and develop crucial global competence skills needed for their future.

GCA program enrollment

The spring 2025 cohort of GCA students includes students from UH faculty-led learning abroad programs, student organizations, Global Citizens Credential participants, and various global courses. For more information or questions, please contact Dr. Mahoney at memahoney@uh.edu.

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Global Competence

Global Competence:  Attitudes  |  Knowledge  |  Global Skills  |  Global Action

America is increasingly globally connected and needs its citizens to be globally competent, and higher education has a leading role in creating global citizens (American Council on Education, 1998; Bulone, 2016). Developing global competence is crucial for students’ success in diverse environments—whether on campus, across Houston, during a study abroad program, or in their future careers. This program provides practical knowledge, tools, and assessments that help students understand and improve how they adapt and engage across cultures.

Global Learning experiences are more effective when they include reflection. (Kuh, et al., 2013). 

By participating in the Global Competence Accelerator, students will connect their global experiences to the tenets of global competence through the Cultural Intelligence (CQ) assessment and framework. From this assessment and required workshop, students will be able to deepen their intercultural awareness, strengthen their ability to collaborate across cultures, and become more confident in navigating international and cross-cultural environments. The GCA leverages the four dimensions of CQ to help students better understand their cultural strengths and growth areas. Using CQ assessments, debrief sessions, and active reflection, students will become more prepared to engage in diverse global settings and develop the skills necessary to thrive as global citizens.

Global Career Readiness

The Global Career Accelerator emphasizes the connection between global competence and career readiness. 

Career-ready individuals are culturally competent. They identify and incorporate global perspectives and skills in their education and career plans. Asia Society

Career Readiness is foundation from which to demonstrate requisite core competencies that broadly prepare the college educated for success in the workplace and lifelong career management. Within NACE's eight Career Readiness competencies is their concept of global fluency: the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures.

Access our Global Engagement Career Resource, developed in collaboration with UH's University Career Services. This resource includes a sample globally-focused resume, as well as transferrable skills and other resources to incorporate global engagement into the career search. 

Explore career readiness and other NACE resources at www.naceweb.org/career-readiness

Connect with UH University Career Services for resume support, interview workshops, career fairs, and other global career readiness resources. 

University Career Services
106 Student Service Center 1
713.743.5100
uh.edu/ucs

 

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4 CQ capabilities - CQ Drive, CQ Knowledge, CQ Strategy, CQ Action

Cultural Intelligence

Cultural Intelligence, or CQ, measures your capability to relate and work effectively in culturally diverse situations. It’s a form of intelligence that has been tested by academic researchers in over 98 countries for nearly two decades.

CQ is critical for effective leadership in today’s diverse and interconnected world. Leaders with high CQ can navigate complex cultural dynamics, and foster inclusive environments that value and leverage varied perspectives. Additionally, culturally intelligent leaders are better equipped to address conflicts and adapt strategies to suit diverse audiences.

The Institute for Global Engagement uses the Cultural Intelligence assessment as a measurable component of the Global Competence Accelerator. CQ can be developed through focused assessments, training, and reflection, making it an excellent tool for students looking to grow into globally competent citizens.

For more information on the Cultural Intelligence Center, visit their website at culturalq.com