Intercultural mediator. Study based on the necessities about this figure in the University of Málaga.

Abstract

The proposal of our team is to clarify if the figure of the intercultural mediator at the University of Malaga is appropriate. To this end, we analyzed the following ongoing plan “Plan of Support for Refugees of the University of Malaga and 16 NGOs" in order to examine whether is necessary intercultural mediation between refugee students and other types of students, institutions and the University itself. The methodology carried out will be a qualitative method based on the analysis of the discourse by “Potter and Wetherell”. The technique that is going to be used on the selected sample is the in-depth interview. Three of the students in the plan considered that it would be a key point for an intercultural mediator, be closer and carefully in the relationship with them. The two remaining students understand that it is not necessary the figure of the intercultural mediator because all the students in the University are of legal age and have the capacity to do it by their own. The employees who support the idea, consider that it would be necessary because it would help the participants of the plan to have a better adaptation, and could also help their volunteers by training or directing them. In addition, as a problems solver with the aim to create a coexistence. Furthermore, the employees who support that the plan does not need such figure, explain that it is the work of the NGOs or in case of conflict, there is the figure of “The University Defence”. According to the analysis of the figure of the intercultural mediator, we have concluded about the necessity to include this professional in the current plan, due to there is lack of integration at cultural level. In this way, they would be facilitated the adaptation, in order to maintain better human relationships with the native people, besides to make their coexistence , for example in the houses improving and reducing the cultural misunderstandings.