Paper Title
The Impact of Short-Term Study Abroad Program on Student Intercultural Competence Development: A Case of Kazakhstan

Abstract
This study aims to explore the impact of a short-term study abroad program on the development of students’ intercultural competence. The participants of this study were 11 Kazakhstani undergraduate students who spent a semester at a foreign university. The study is qualitative in nature, employing semi-structured interviews and participant observations. Analysis of the participants’ self-reports identified five key themes, including: 1) motivations for studying abroad; 2) cultural knowledge; 3) cultural shock and cultural differences; 4) intercultural interaction; and 5) personal growth and personal changes. The interview data revealed that the students had expanded their cultural knowledge, become more proficient in the English language, enhanced their skills of intercultural interaction, and developed such personal qualities as flexibility, adaptability, and independence. Furthermore, the participants reported an enhanced sense of belonging to their home country while staying abroad. Keywords - Intercultural Competence, Kazakhstan, Study Abroad, Undergraduate Students.