This paper analyzes notions of culture and human intelligence. Drawing on implicit and explicit theory frameworks, I explore discourses about perceptions of intelligence and culture. These include cultural perceptions and meanings of intelligence in Asia, Africa and Western cultures. While there is little consensus on what intelligence really means from one culture to the next, the literature suggests that the culture or sub culture of an individual will determine how intelligence is conceived. In conclusion, the view is that culture and intelligence are interwoven.

Using a reflective practice approach this paper provides an outline of the development of a new career development and counselling program for students within a medical sciences off-campus precinct. Drawing on Schön’s (1983) reflective practice framework the aim included reflecting “in” and “on” action during the development and implementation of the program, leading to transformative learning. Client (the student) and counsellor had the opportunity to assess and reframe their views through the incorporation of new knowledge and information . The career development program is based on Krumboltz and Super’s theoretical models with a focus on the life stages of career and leisure development throughout the lifespan. The paper concludes that individuals may begin to examine and assess their own skills and abilities by drawing on aspects of reflective practice such as noticing, making sense, making meaning, and finally reaching a stage of self-awareness (Bager-Charleson, 2010). These outcomes may transpire as a result of participation in various skills audit exercises and related activities within a career development program.

This paper investigated increasing visuospatial ability in three countries. Drawing on the Flynn Effect some researchers (Greenfield, 1998; Neisser, 1997) hypothesized that visuospatial ability may be increasing. I explored rising visuospatial abilities amongst school leavers in the UK, Australia and Nigeria. In one study Cocodia et al. (2003) found that exposure to new technology may be impacting on ability to carry out tasks that require high levels of visuospatial ability more efficiently. Results suggest that increasing visuospatial ability may be occurring due to a more visual environment and more access to multimedia. The core component of the present research paper was to investigate whether visuospatial ability is indeed rising as it is a feature of the human intelligence framework (Halpern & LaMay, 2000; Alias, Gray, & Black, 2001). Data analysis of examination results in specific subjects indicated that visuospatial abilities are rising. It was hypothesized that visuospatial ability is rising in industrialized nations due to more access to multimedia, and cognitive manipulation task in general.