Intercultural Certificate

Fall 2022 and Winter 2023 Schedule

Students have two options for completing the Intercultural Certificate: in-person on the Waterloo Campus for Fall 2022, or virtual via Zoom in Winter 2023; 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). There are no sessions delivered during reading week. 

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.