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Intercultural Certificate

The Intercultural Certificate strives to support participants' development of intercultural skills, knowledge and attitudes that stimulate a commitment to lifelong learning and strengthen their ability to support and understand a globally diverse world.
Register now for the Intercultural Certificate

Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 Schedule

For both Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 the Intercultural Certificate will be delivered in a hybrid manner with the first and last session being delivered in person on both Waterloo and Brantford Campus, and the six interim sessions being virtual via Zoom; all Laurier students are welcome to register. 

Each session is 80 minutes duration. All deliveries will have supplemental materials posted on My Learning Space. All times are in EST (Eastern Standard Time). The sessions are participatory and not recorded. If you miss a session you can complete it in a future term. There are no sessions delivered during reading week. 

For the fall term, remaining sessions are on Fridays at 3 p.m. ET (Toronto Time) and are 80 minutes in duration.
  • Culture, Conflict and Confusion - Dawn McDermott (via Zoom) | Nov. 17
  • Lifelong Intercultural Learning - Anne-marie Henry (via Zoom) | Nov. 24
  • Make up session for: Exploring Difference and Disrupting White Supremacy - Anne-marie Henry  (via Zoom) | Dec. 1

All registered students will be added to the My Learning Space Course: Intercultural Certificate | Laurier International and provided with room location and zoom links via email.

For the Winter term, sessions are on Mondays at 2 p.m. ET (Toronto Time) and are 80 minutes in duration.

  • Introductions to Concepts of Culture - Ben Yang (In person)
    • Waterloo Campus | Jan. 15
    • Brantford Campus Campus | Jan. 22
  • Continued Exploration of Culture - Phyllis Power (via Zoom) | Jan. 29
  • Exploring One's Own Culture - Mike Boylan (via Zoom) | Feb. 5
  • Exploring Difference and Disrupting White Supremacy - Humera Javed  (via Zoom) | Feb. 12
  • There is no delivery for Reading Week 
  • Introduction to Intercultural Communication - Jane Desmond (via Zoom) | Feb. 26
  • Culture, Conflict and Confusion - Dawn McDermott (via Zoom) | Mar. 4
  • Introduction to Cultural Adaptation - Anne-marie Henry (via Zoom) | Mar. 11
  • Lifelong Intercultural Learning (In Person) | Mar. 18
    • Mike Boylan - Waterloo Campus 
    • Anne-marie Henry - Brantford Campus  

All registered students will be added to the My Learning Space Course: Intercultural Certificate | Laurier International and provided with room location and zoom links via email.

The Intercultural Certificate consists of eight modules on the following topics:

  • Introduction to concepts of culture: An exploration of culture as a concept, how it affects all people and societies, and influences their life, work and study – especially during these uncertain times. 
  • Continued exploration of culture:  Continue to explore differing tools, including cultural dimensions that help to bridge, appreciate and leverage difference 
  • Introduction to exploring one’s own culture: An introduction to exploring how one’s own background, identity and lived experience influences one’s values, attitudes and behaviours; and culture as distinct from personality, identity and human behaviour. 
  • Exploring difference and disrupting white supremacy culture: An exploration of power and privilege as concepts and how they impact interactions across cultural difference; exploration of micro-aggressions with a focus on impact vs. intent to support working effectively across difference; and an introduction of examples of resistance and rejection of white supremacy culture
  • Introduction to intercultural communication: An understanding of cultural communication styles, the impact of one’s filters and how their style impacts others.
  • Conflict, culture and confusion: Explore how mediation and other tools can be used when culture is the root of conflict.
  • Introduction to cultural adaptation: An introduction to the process of cultural adaptation and cognitive dissonance, adjustment and adaptation strategies to support relationship building and good health.
  • Lifelong intercultural learning: An opportunity to review learning and create strategies to further develop an intercultural praxis, while recognizing that intercultural learning is a lifelong process.

The delivery of the program uses an active learning approach and is free of charge to registered Laurier students, including exchange students, and you can get Laurier Experience Record credit for it.

The Intercultural Certificate was introduced in 2015/16 by Laurier International in partnership with the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Teaching and Learning.