Intercultural Communication Studies XXIV(2) 2015 61 Intercultural Communication Competence and Acculturation among International Students in Central China Flemmings Fishani Ngwira & Harold Wilson Tumwitike Mapoma University of Malawi, Malawi Jianzhong Hong Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland Sunawan Sariyo Semarang State University, Indonesia Wellman Kondowe Mzuzu University, Malawi 1. Introduction Since the government of the People’s Republic of China began an open door policy in 1978, increasing numbers of international students have been entering China (Ministry of Education, 2009). By 2012, the number of international students studying in China reached over 328,000 (Ministry of Education, 2013), and coupled with the government’s target of reaching over 500,000 international students by the year 2020 (Ministry of Education, 2010), the number of international students is expected to continue increasing each year. However, there is no available literature on their level of intercultural communication competences (ICC) and acculturation as they interact with local and other international students. These students come from different nationalities Abstract: Each year, increasing numbers of international students enroll in Chinese universities, yet no literature is available on their intercultural communication competences (ICC) and acculturation status. The study aimed at investigating these two key concepts at Central China Normal University. Two dimensions of intercultural communication competence (affect and behavior) and two dimensions of acculturation (attitude towards maintenance of one’s culture and attitude towards contact with other cultures) were employed to measure and analyze the two research constructs. A representative sample of 302 international students shows that Asian international students are less motivated to adapt than other students from other continents. In addition, time and education level do not seem to be suffcient factors in facilitating adaptation. Furthermore, the most preferred acculturation strategy is found to be integration. Finally, attitude towards contact positively correlates with affect and behavior. However, there is no relationship between attitude towards cultural maintenance and the two dimensions of ICC. These fndings suggest that a better understanding of intercultural communication competence and acculturation, as well as of factors that help facilitate adjustment to the new culture, are essential in assisting Chinese universities to come up with effective programs that enhance contact between cultures. Keywords: Intercultural communication competence, acculturation, demographic factors, cultural diversity, international students Ngwira, Mapoma, Hong, Sariyo & Kondowe