The university tutorial: greek students' development of intercultural competences

The rapid technological progress, particularly in the sectors of telecommunications and multimedia, has brought about a new period of opportunities, both in terms of coexistence and in terms of respect for diversity. The multicultural evolution of European societies creates a new situation, in which cultures and teams interact in the frame of a new post-modern reality. Consequently, modern Europe needs young citizens who can select and retrieve useful information and knowledge from the vast amount of knowledge at their disposal. More than ever education and especially the university should equip young people with all those valuable elements that can help them cope with present and future challenges. However, and despite the great importance given to cross-cultural competences as a professional qualification in the new international environment, it appears that this factor is not taken into consideration by the services of professional orientation at Greek Universities. Accordingly, it seems advisable that these university services in charge of students' professional orientation change their direction and be convinced that it is necessary to include also cross-cultural competences among the other qualifications, which make up the picture of modern, professional, European needs and conditions of growth and development.