Abstract: Intercultural competence (IC) has become an essential competency for college students in the new era. Developing students' intercultural competence has become a topic of widespread concern in the foreign language community. This study employed the ICCAS scale to measure this student group's IC and found that their IC is weak. Through interviewing teachers and students, this study found that many factors (including students, teacher, and university) restrict the development of these students' IC. Local colleges should consider their actual situation, identify the direction and target their efforts. English majors of local colleges should actively explore new ways to cultivate international talents by putting forth efforts in several directions, including enhancing students' Chinese identity, cultivating their global vision, consolidating their basic English language skills, improving teachers' IC, improving intercultural teaching methods and enhancing intercultural education atmosphere on campus.

Key words: intercultural competence, local colleges, English majors, foreign language education