The role of openness and cultural intelligence in students' intention to study abroad

Purpose Higher education performance is boosted through cross-border cooperation and increased transnational mobility of students. In addition, exchange students have better employability skills after staying abroad compared to the students' peers. A number studies investigated factors that determine whether a student abroad. this study, authors focused on role personality trait openness experience cultural intelligence (CI) in explaining Croatian with and/or intention travel for studying purposes. Design/methodology/approach The analyzed results from 482 ( M = 22.61, standard deviation (SD) 2.24, 66% female), whom 35% reported they studied or intended study They filled Cultural Intelligence Scale facets items International Personality Item Pool (IPIP-300) questionnaire. Findings conducted hierarchical binary logistic regression analysis found who were younger, had higher adventurousness motivational CI more likely Results mediation showed association between facet was partially mediated by aspect CI. Originality/value This contributes understanding complex interrelations traits context internationalization processes. offers unique insight into mediating has behavior.