Intercultural Dynamics in International Education

Being in a role that supports international students can be a very interesting and rewarding experience. Few positions facilitate connection like this with people from all around the world. However, these roles can also come with a unique set of challenges and frustrations, especially regarding cultural differences.

Culture influences how we communicate and how we think of ourselves and our place in the community. It also has an effect on our attitude toward work and to authority, on our understanding of justice and morality, on our approach to decision making, and even on our relationship with time. Examples such as these can affect how we perceive and respond to certain situations in our work with international students, especially as we help them navigate their way through new and complex cultural and academic experiences.

This session will ask new international education practitioners to notice how their own thoughts, behaviours, and attitudes are culturally coded. With this understanding of self, we can start to more effectively and appropriately navigate across cultural differences in our efforts to support students in the best way possible.

In this session, participants will begin to:
• understand culture, cultural awareness, and intercultural competence
• recognize how cultural norms impact our relationship with others and our responses to situations
• practice leading with curiosity before judgment

Join us as we examine some of the basics of effective intercultural communication. There will be fun, experiential activities throughout that will reinforce the lessons taught.

*This session is a taste of what is offered in some of the courses in BCIT’s International Education Practitioner (IEP) Microcredential, which is uniquely targeted to support the demand for competent personnel in the field of International Education.

Facilitator: Erin Smith

Registration Deadline: January 23, 2025