Lifelong Learn. 2026, 16, 7-36
An Exploratory Study of the Eighth Lifelong Learning Competence: Cultural Awareness and Expression
This study explored university students’ Cultural Awareness and Expression (CA&E), a core lifelong learning competence, within the context of an experiential learning-based course. A mixed-methods, one-group pretest–posttest design was implemented with 92 undergraduates, combining quantitative testing with structured reflective writing data. The course incorporated experiential activities and guided reflective tasks intended to encourage engagement, reflection, and the application of cultural knowledge. CA&E was assessed using the Cultural Awareness and Expression Competence Scale (CAECS) and a structured reflective writing task capturing self-assessment and critical engagement with intercultural experiences. Quantitative results revealed statistically significant pre-post score differences in knowledge (Δ = 3.5, t = 5.8615, p = 0.0006), attitude (Δ = 3.2, t = 4.3317, p = 0.0034), and skills (Δ = 5.0, t = 11.0931, p = 0.001), indicating measurable changes across all CAECS domains during the course period. Reflective writing data were analyzed within an explanatory sequential mixed-methods framework, using a subsample of students with complete quantitative and qualitative datasets. Findings highlighted the coursebook, cross-cultural advertisement task, and term project as important components in students’ accounts of their learning experiences, particularly in relation to the application and expression of cultural knowledge. Skills-related dimensions were especially prominent in both CAECS and students’ reflective accounts. Overall, the findings provide an exploratory indication of CA&E-related changes within this instructional context. Although the study does not permit causal inference due to the absence of a control group, it offers insights into how CA&E can be engaged through experiential and reflective pedagogical practices. This approach may inform curriculum design in higher education as well as in teacher education and K–12 contexts.
Keywords
cultural awareness, cultural expression, experiential learning, intercultural communication, eighth key lifelong competence.
