Projects and publications

The Global Mind Monitor (GMM) was developed in co-creation with Etil Research Group. The GMM is a measurement and reflection tool that is specifically designed to measure and map the development of intercultural competencies among students in higher education. The GMM allows students to visualize their intercultural competencies in different stages of their curriculum, based on internationally validated quantitative scaling instruments (Multicultural Personality, Cultural Intelligence, Ethnocentrism and a broad set of individual background variables).

Several higher education institutions in the Netherlands make use of this tool that currently contains more than 12,000 individual measurements. Students take part in one, two or even more measurement rounds. There is an option for 360° feedback. The GMM maps the students’ development regarding the five different dimensions of the Multi Cultural Personality scale (Van der Zee and Van Oudenhoven, 2000) and the four dimensions of Cultural Intelligence (Ang et al., 2007). It also includes an ethnocentrism scale and a measurement of foreign language skills. The questionnaire also asks students background questions about their participation in, and assessment of internationalisation activities at home and abroad. The questionnaire also contains demographic data on age, gender and country of origin.

The GMM is a self-assessment instrument that is used to start a meaningful conversation about intercultural competence development between students and their coaches, at multiple occasions throughout their curriculum.

Researchers at an educational institution using the GMM, can use the anonymized and aggregated data, for instance to map the effects of specific curriculum interventions (internationalization at home, a study abroad, an internship, etc.) on a cohort’s development over time. Furthermore, a management dashboard is available to allow administrators insights on the outcomes of international learning at an aggregated level.

Recent projects with data from the GMM includes studies on the role of cultural distance during a stay abroad in the development of intercultural competences and a study on the moderating effect of participating in different internationalisation-at-home activities on the learning outcomes of a study abroad.

Currently, GMM data are used in a case study of the International Business curriculum, in collaboration with the Sustainable International Business research center. Finally, studies on the relation between the international classroom and levels of ethnocentrism, the relation between the intercultural composition of international classrooms at Dutch universities and the development of cultural intelligence amongst individual students have been submitted for presentation at international conferences. 

A spin off of the GMM project is the development of a version that is suitable for students in intermediate vocational education (MBO). The development of global competence is equally important for these young professionals, many of whom further their studies in higher education. The deliverables of this project are a prototype and a training program for students and staff. The project was funded by the Province of Limburg in the context of strengthening the education chain in the EU-region. The projectleader of this project is Martine Prins. 

One of the ways in which students’ global competence can be fostered is reflective writing. Reflective writing or blogging has the potential to boost immersive intercultural learning experiences such as an internship abroad, for multiple reasons: blogging is a time and place independent learning activity that deepens reflective thinking, cultural knowledge and self-knowledge, whilst at the same time it encourages peers to learn from each other (Hoefnagels & Schoenmakers, 2018).

The data for our research are collected from the Simulise platform ‘Curious People’ that is used by Zuyd academies Hotel Management School and Oriental Languages and Communication. Students from both academies write about their internship experience, are given (peer) feedback. Their work is assessed on the basis of rubrics developed by our research center.

The current study conducted by Hilde Hanegreefs combines insights from psycholinguistics and text analysis to identify linguistic markers of intercultural competence (ICC) in student blogs about intercultural experiences. These markers of ICC may constitute concrete cues for teachers when assessing reflective writing assignments and allow them to pinpoint concrete areas for improvement in their feedback and interaction with students. 

In this project, student’s perceptions of inclusion in the international classroom are investigated. The survey data are analysed by students from the Academy Oriental Languages and Communication in the context of a course on internal communication. The students use the outcomes to provide recommendations to improve international community building. The first two cases were the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Maastricht University) and Hotel Management School Maastricht. In 2022, the Maastricht Institute of Arts (Music Academy) is the ‘client’. 

In collaboration with Penn State University (USA) a cross-cultural study is conducted in the USA and Europe examining among others the effect of employees’ cultural intelligence (van Dyne & Ang 2009) on their ‘hopeful career state’ and international mobility. Employees who are hopeful, optimistic, and resilient are more likely to “weather the storm” of dynamic circumstances than peers with lower hopefulness levels (Snyder et al., 1996).

In this project, the research center will conduct the European part of the study, led by Tom Kuypers. The results of this project will not only help to gain insight in the extent to which cultural intelligence enhances people’s attitude towards their careers, it will also allow valorising this in advice to different professional sectors, who are facing challenges of attracting and retaining qualified staff members.

This joint research project with Hotelschool the Hague, will investigate team resilience amongst the staff of the Hotelschools in the Netherlands, in relation to (amongst other variables) employees’ cultural intelligence (van Dyne & Ang, 2009).

From our side, Tom Kuypers will take the lead, and investigate the role that cultural intelligence plays for the educational employees’ on the resilience they experience in the team. By focussing on learning behaviour as an outcome, we seek to advance our understanding of the importance of educating global minds on the staff-side of Dutch Hotelschools. Given its international character, educational staff at Hotelschools will be face numerous challenges that are of intercultural nature. This requires resilience from employees, and we believe cultural intelligence is a valuable asset to staff resilience. 

Dias. O., Gao, J., Hoefnagels, A., Johnson, D., Litzen, J., McSweeney, M., Norton, M., Pengelly, K., Sarles, J., Wangani, G., Van Gaalen, A., Veerasamy, Y. (2021). Interviewing Policy Leaders to Advance Intercultural Competence Across Borders. Intercultural Connector Blog. World Council on Intercultural and Global Competence. Accessible via: https://iccglobal.org/2021/09/30/interviewing-policy-leaders-to-advance-intercultural-competence-across-boundaries/

Boonen, J., Hoefnagels, A., Pluymaekers, M., & Odekerken, A. (2021). Promoting international learning outcomes during a study abroad: the moderating role of internationalisation at home. International Journal of Educational Management.

Tews, M. J., Hoefnagels, A., Jolly, P. M., & Stafford, K. (2020). Turnover among young adults in the hospitality industry: examining the impact of fun in the workplace and training climate. Employee Relations: The International Journal.

Boonen, J., Hoefnagels, A., & Pluymaekers, M. (2018). De ontwikkeling van interculturele competenties tijdens een studieverblijf in het buitenland: het belang van culturele afstand. Tijdschrift voor Hoger Onderwijs, 36(2).

Bolton, R.N., Parasuraman, A., Hoefnagels, A., Mighels, N., Kabadayi, S., Gruber, T., Komarova Loureiro, Y., Solnet, D. (2013). Understanding Generation Y and their Use of Social Media: a Review and Research Agenda. Journal of Service Management, 24 (3), 245-267.

Hoefnagels, Boonen, Hanegreefs & Prins (2020). Bouwen aan internationale competenties in een post-corona curriculum: de docent als gamechanger, Science Guide. Via: https://www.scienceguide.nl/2020/11/bouwen-aan-internationale-competenties-in-een-postcorona-curriculum-de-docent-als-gamechanger/

Gregersen-Hermans, J. & Boonen, J. (2022). The International Business School Maastricht: From an educational strategy to an internationalized educational practice. In: Leask, B., de Wit, H., Torres Hernández, M. & Bustos-Aguirre, M. (Eds.) Reimagining the internationalization of the curriculum. Best practices and promising possibilities. University of Guadalajara

Boonen, J., Hoefnagels, A. & Pluymaekers, M. (2019). The development of intercultural competencies during a study abroad in Pritchard, R., O’Hara, M., Milsom, C., Williams, J. and Matei, L. (Eds.) The Three C-s of Higher Education. Competition, Collaboration and Complementarity. CEU Press: Budapest.

Hoefnagels, A., & Schoenmakers, S. (2018). Developing the intercultural competence of 21st learners with blogging during a work placement abroad. In J. Oskam, D. Dekker, & C. Wiegerink (Eds.), Innovation in hospitality education: Anticipating the educational needs of a changing profession (Vol. 14): Springer Publishers.

Hoefnagels, A., & Pluymaekers, M. (2018). Hospitality experience: The intercultural dimension. In F. Melissen, J. P. Van der Rest, S. Josephi, & R. Blomme (Eds.), Hospitality Experience: An introduction to hospitality management (2nd ed.). Groningen: Wolters Noordhoff.

Hoefnagels, A., van Egmond, T. (2010). Grenzeloos: Interculturele Communicatie in de Wereld van Toerisme en Gastvrijheid. Meppel, Edu’Actief.

Kuypers, T., Trotta, D. (2022, November). The role of cultural intelligence in fostering individuals’ career development. Paper presented at the 12th Biennial International Conference of the Dutch HRM Network, the Netherlands. 

Boonen, J., Grosch, I., Van Heel-Bradbury, M., Hoefnagels, A. (2022, July). Effective interventions for global competence development in an international classroom. Joint Panel Presentation at the Annual Conference of the International Academy for Intercultural Research in Rapperswill, Switserland. 

Sok, J., Kuypers, T.  (2022, June) Antecedents of team resilience in hospitality education. Paper presented at the Annual INC Conference in Limassol, Cyprus. 

Kuypers, T., Grosch, I., Xu, J. Van Hoof, B., Hoefnagels, A.  (2022, May). A cross-cultural comparison on the effect of cultural intelligence on employees' career perspective. Paper presented at the SIETAR Europe Conference, Malta. 

Hanegreefs, H., &Van Heel-Bradbury, M. (2022, May). Teachers’ self-perception of assessment literacy in reflective writing assignments: an exploratory study. Paper presented at the SIETAR Europe Congress, Valletta, Malta. 

Hoefnagels, A., Boonen, J., Prins, M., Gregersen-Hermans, J., Kalogeras, N.  (2022, May). Incorporating ‘action for collective well-being and sustainability’ in the assessment of Global Competence: the case of the Global Mind Monitor. Paper presented online at the SIETAR Europe Conference, Malta.

Van Heel Bradbury, M., Boonen, J., Hoefnagels, A. (2021, November). A Cross-Curricular Case Study: Students Advising Management. Paper presented online at the annual conference of EAPRIL.

Grosch, I., Boonen, J., Hoefnagels, A. (2021, September). Effects of the international classroom composition on domestic students Cultural Intelligence Development. Paper presented online at the Annual EAIR conference in Berlin on 9 September 2021.

Hanegreefs, H., Pluymaekers, M., Hoefnagels, A. (2021, August). Enhancing ICC through blogging. Paper presented online at ABC Vienna. 

Tews, M.J., Hoefnagels, A., & Beaumont-Perez, F. (2019, May). Factors to enhance hospitality internship success. Paper presented at the APacCHRIE & EuroCHRIE Joint Conference, Hong Kong, China.

Boonen, J., Arrivillaga, L., Gregersen-Hermans, J. (2019). Hoe meet je de effectiviteit van internationale leeractiviteiten? gepresenteerd op Nuffic Congress 2019, Rotterdam, 10 juni 2019.

Boonen, J., Hoefnagels, A., Odekerken, A. & Pluymaekers, M (2019). Different dimensions of international learning during a study abroad: Comparing international learning outcomes and the importance of internationalization at home. Presented op the Sietar Europe Congress 2019, Leuven, 30 mei 2019.

Boonen, J. (2018). De Global Mind Monitor: interculturele ontwikkeling inzichtelijk maken voor studenten. gepresenteerd op DAIR Seminar 2018, Doorn, 7-8 november 2018.

Boonen, J., Hoefnagels, A., Odekerken, A. & Pluymaekers, M. (2018) The different dimensions of international learning during a study abroad: Comparing international learning outcomes and the importance of preparation at home. The European Higher Education Society (EAIR), Annual Forum, Central European University (CEU), 28-30 augustus 2018.

Tews, M.J., Hoefnagels, A., & Odekerken, A. (2018, November). Does genre matter? Examining the impact of tattoo content on perceptions of employment suitability. Paper presented at the Annual EuroCHRIE Conference, Dublin, Ireland.

Boonen, Hoefnagels & Odekerken (2018). The different dimensions of international learning during a study abroad: Comparing international learning outcomes and the importance of preparation at home. Proceedings of EAIR 2018.

Boonen, J., Hoefnagels, A., & Pluymaekers, M. (2017). The Development of Intercultural Competencies During a Stay Abroad: Does Cultural Distance Matter. The European Higher Education Society (EAIR), Annual Forum, University of Porto, 3-6 September 2017.

Hoefnagels, A., & Boonen, J. (2017). The development of intercultural competencies during a stay abroad: Does cultural distance matter? Presented at the IPoE Forum, Melbourne, Australia (November 2017).

Hanegreefs, H., & Hoefnagels, A. (2017). Curiosity crossing borders: A case of students blogging on international experiences.Paper presented at the EDINEB conference, Utrecht (June 2017).

Piskur, B., Hoefnagels, A. (2017). Two sides to every story: a qualitative study on web-based blogging about intercultural experiences.In: Conference Proceedings of the Annual SIETAR (Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research) Conference, Dublin, Ireland. (May 2017)

Hanegreefs, H., Hoefnagels, A., Pluymaekers, M. (2017). Can you pin down intercultural competence (IC) on the basis of students’ language use in groupblogs? Paper presented at the Annual GABC (Global Advances in Business and Communication) Conference, Antwerp, Belgium. (May 2017)

Hoefnagels, A., Schoenmakers, S. (2016). Developing intercultural competence of 21st century learners. Paper presented at EAPRIL (European Association for Practitioner Research on Improving Learning) Conference in Porto (November 2016).

Hoefnagels, A. (2015). The Global Mind Check: to Enhance the Global Wiring of the Translation/Interpreting Student. In: Conference Proceedings of the International Maastricht-Lodz lll Duo Colloquium on “Translation and Meaning 2015”, Maastricht. (November 2015)

Meijer, K., Keizer, A., Odekerken, A., Hoefnagels, A. (2015). Intercultural Competence, Global Citizenship or Cosmopolitanism? No Tower of Babel if Hospitality Educators Join Forces. In: Conference Proceedings of Eurochrie 2015, Dubai, UAI.

Hoefnagels, A., Bloemer, J., Pluymaekers, M., & Kasper, H. (2014). Frontline Employees' Intercultural Competence: Does it Impact Customer Evaluations of an Intercultural Service Encounter? In: Conference Proceedings of the Annual Australia New Zealand Marketing Association Conference 2014, Brisbane.

Hoefnagels, A., Bloemer, J. (2014). A Chinese Customer or a 30- Year Old Business Man? A Hotel Managers’ Perspective on Managing Intercultural Service Encounters. In: Conference Proceedings of Eurochrie, Dubai (October 2014).

Hoefnagels, A., Bloemer, J., Odekerken, A. The effect of the frontline employee’s intercultural competence on customer evaluations and behavioral outcomes of intercultural service encounters. In: Conference Proceedings of Eurochrie, Freiburg (October 2013).

Hoefnagels, A., Bloemer, J., Pluymaekers, M. A Global Mind, a Joy Forever? Intercultural Competence as an Antecedent of Work Engagement and Relationship Quality in Domestic Jobs with International Responsibilities.Presented at the Service Management Science Forum (SMSF), Las Vegas (July 2013).

Hoefnagels, A., Bloemer, J., Pluymaekers, M. Direct and indirect effects of frontline employees’ intercultural competence on customer evaluations of intercultural service encounters. Presented at the European Marketing Association Conference (EMAC), Istanbul (June 2013).

Hoefnagels, A. Bloemer, J., Odekerken, A. The Karma of the Chameleon: Intercultural Competence as an Antecedent of Frontline Employees’ Job Attitudes and Behaviors in the Hotel Sector. In: Conference Proceedings of Eurochrie, Lausanne (October 2012).

Hoefnagels, A. ICAWORLD: An Online Platform for Intercultural Awareness Development of Hospitality Management Students. In: Conference Proceedings of Eurochrie, Amsterdam (October 2010).

Ankie Hoefnagels is a columnist for newspaper 'Dagblad de Limburger' and Analyst Education and Society at the regional radio station of Limburg 'L1'.