Revisiting Hofstede’s Model: Insights From Local and International Students on Taiwanese Cultural Values

The notion of national culture is a foundational assumption in intercultural communication research, enabling the discussion and analysis of cultural values at a societal level. Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Model, developed in the 1980s and widely applied to this day, provides a six-dimensional framework for quantifying national cultural orientations and identifying cultural differences across nations. Motivated by Hofstede’s model, this study explores how local and international students in a Taiwanese university perceive Taiwanese cultural values. The research aims to (1) examine Taiwanese university students’ perceptions of Taiwanese cultural values, (2) investigate international students’ perceptions of these values, and (3) compare the perspectives of both groups. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The questionnaire was administered to 127 Taiwanese university students and 108 international students in Taiwan, with follow-up interviews conducted with six Taiwanese and 17 international students. The findings indicate that Taiwanese students’ perceptions largely align with Hofstede’s model, though shifts in power distance and individualism suggest ongoing cultural transformation. Similarly, international students’ perceptions align with Hofstede’s framework, yet their cultural backgrounds influence how they interpret Taiwanese cultural values. For instance, Asian students view Taiwan as individualistic, whereas European students perceive it as collectivistic. Comparisons between the two groups reveal consensus on four dimensions (power distance, individualism, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation) but contrasting views on masculinity and mixed attitudes toward indulgence. Overall, the questionnaire results reinforce Hofstede’s predictions, while the interviews highlight evolving cultural dynamics in Taiwan. These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of cultural perceptions in a university setting, offering insights into the intersection of local and global cultural orientations. This paper will focus on the comparison of the two perspectives on the Taiwanese cultural values.