Strategic tools for transitioning to intercultural interaction and managing diversity in the educational organization

The current state of development of the internationalization of Russian higher education requires a critical rethinking of standard processes and approaches to the reception and services for international students, as well as a formalized set of international elements (exchanges, joint programs, modules) as integration resources into the international educational domain and the creation of international reputation. This rethinking requires strengthening the value orientation on more progressive principles, namely, a full-fledged transition to intercultural interaction and effective diversity management as an integral function of the educational ecosystem. Cultural intelligence and competencies of intercultural interaction should become a strategic resource for educational organizations in all types of activities (scientific, methodological, design, educational, international) and one of dimensions for the accumulation of distinctive competencies and competitive advantages in the global education market. The article describes the features of five methodological approaches to the analysis of the current situation of intercultural interactions: student-centered, cluster, environmental, competence and communicative. A set of six central strategic tools for improving intercultural interactions in educational organizations are proposed as a combination of: 1) intercultural interaction training for all participants and stakeholders of the educational process; 2) intensive training orientation programs (briefings) with modules to overcome barriers to intercultural communication; 3) surveys and data collection for taking measures to increase the effectiveness of intercultural communication technologies; 4) comparative international research and intensive exchange of experience in the field of intercultural interactions; 5) the use of integrative tools for in-university navigation; 6) the formation of the institution of tutoring in the context of intercultural interactions and diversity management. From the perspective of the formation of cultural intelligence, the motivational aspect is of paramount importance for qualitative transformations of educational organizations. There is a particular need for a systematic and sustainable increase in professional and intercultural awareness, training in flexible and student-centered skills, as well as harmonization of the activities of all university services, which are directly or indirectly involved in creating an open and friendly academic and service environments for international students. The article was prepared based on results of applied research work GZ-PI-40-20 "Developing the methods and mechanisms for intercultural adaptation of foreign students." supported by the Financial University.