Intercultural Competences: dealing with cultural perspectives in education

  • LocationUtrecht
  • Duration22 hours
  • Starting moment19 March 2024
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Teaching methodAt location
  • CertificationCertificate

This course will address intercultural competences by starting from an awareness of your own (cultural) perspectives and frames of reference towards a deeper understanding of other perspectives. The course supports teachers in developing the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes to effectively adapt your teaching to the specific needs of a heterogeneous and diverse classroom.

Suitable for

Dutch and international teachers in higher education who (will) teach in an international or (culturally) diverse classroom

Content

This course will address intercultural competences by starting from an awareness of your own (cultural) perspectives and frames of reference towards a deeper understanding of other (cultural) perspectives from other world view frameworks. The focus will be on the teacher’s personal development in intercultural competence but always from the point of view of your own educational practice. We do this by reflecting on video material, exploring and reflecting on your own ideas, position and behaviour by using case studies and ‘rich points’ from your own educational practice.

Objectives

After completing the course, you will be able to:

  • identify your own cultural background(s) and biases and develop new perspectives on this
  • interpret ‘rich points’ your teaching from the perspectives of you own and more than one other worldview
  • demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of element important to students of another culture
  • recognise cultural differences in verbal and non-verbal communication and skillfully negotiate a shared understanding in your teaching
  • initiate and develop interactions with students of another culture and suspend judgement in valuing your interaction with (international) students
  • encourage your students to examine their own ‘rich points’ and to develop new perspectives in contract with (other) international students

Participants receive a certificate of attendance when all sessions have been attended.

Fee for UU lecturers

Lecturers of Utrecht University can use O&T units (if available) or can otherwise participate at reduced rates. In either case in consultation with their own faculty.

The course has four sessions:

Session 1 (Openness and curiosity)

We will talk about the definition of ‘culture’ and discuss current theoretical models in intercultural competences. We will do an exercise that induces curiosity and being open to other perspectives. Lastly, we will discuss case studies from educational practice and you reflect on a video about openness and curiosity.

Session 2 (Cultural self-awareness)

In this session you will examine your own identity. What is important to you and why? From this you make the step towards your vision on education: how does your own identity influence your teaching? Lastly, we will discuss different perspectives on learning and reflect on what this means for teaching a diverse group of students.

Session 3 (Cultural world view frameworks and Empathy)

For this session you will interview a student from a different (cultural) background to find out more about the variety in how students like to learn. We will use a theoretical model to discuss how culture is often more related to context rather than nations. Lastly, we do an exercise in which you practice with the difference between (objectively) describing, interpreting and evaluating a complex situation.

Session 4 (Non-verbal and verbal communication)

In the last session we will look at what you can do as a teacher to facilitate all your students in their academic achievements. We will discuss methods to include all students and increase (safe) classroom interaction and we will discuss how to handle (potentially) sensitive topics in class. We will use a theoretical model to analyse communication in a case study. You will end this training with reflecting on concrete implementations/changes within your own educational practice.

This course is offered twice per year for academic staff at Utrecht University. Please contact us if you are not an employee of Utrecht University.

Trainer

Dr. ir. Hetty Grunefeld

Dr. ir. Hetty Grunefeld

Trainer

Dr. G. (Gemma) Corbalan Perez

Dr. G. (Gemma) Corbalan Perez

Trainer

Dr. Ivana Brasileiro Reis Pereira

Dr. Ivana Brasileiro Reis Pereira

Do you have an (educational) question, or are you curious about in-company and customisation options? We would be happy to explore the possibilities with you.

Please contact us via:
onderwijsadviesentraining@uu.nl
030 253 2261

About Educational Development & Training

Educational Development & Training translates academic insights into the daily practice of teaching. As a teaching professional you can come to us throughout the course of your career for training, advice and solutions tailored to your specific teaching-related needs. Visit our website.

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