Intercultural Certificate

1. 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; and differing tools, including cultural dimensions that help to bridge, appreciate and leverage difference.
2. 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 behaviors; and culture as distinct from personality, identity and human behaviour.
3. Introduction to intercultural communication: An understanding of cultural communication styles – the impact of one’s filters and how their style impacts others.
4. Exploring difference: 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 culture.
5. 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.
6. Lifelong intercultural learning: An opportunity to review learning and create strategies to further develop and practice intercultural 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 co-curricular record credit for it.

The Intercultural Certificate was introduced in 2015/16 by Laurier International in partnership with the Diversity and Equity Office and the Centre for Teaching, Innovation, and Excellence.

Dates

Sessions will be offered on both Waterloo and Brantford campuses in both fall and winter terms. Students must attend all six modules in order to receive the Intercultural Certificate.