Linnaeus University International Staff Training Week with focus on Intercultural Communication (ICC) and the Global Classroom June 8th–12th 2015 Växjö/Kalmar, Sweden Background Globalization, international relations, ethnicity, conflict management, multicultural collaboration – those are examples of terms and phenomena that prove the need for continuously developing intercultural communication (ICC) skills. The demand to be interculturally competent is accentuated by the rapid and continuous changes in political geography, in social demographics and migrations, in economics and trade as well as in education standards and systems. The academic world is undergoing changes that will result in even greater needs regarding ICC competences. We experience increasing mobility of students, staff, teachers and researchers, resulting in the need for qualified ICC skills in our study and work environments. Furthermore, students are interested in getting a higher education that prepares them well for employment in international settings, which means that faculty and staff must provide opportunities for such learning. Objectives The overall objective of the activities during the Staff Training Week is to provide the participants with an opportunity to learn about and discuss key concepts related to intercultural communication and to develop practical skills for cultural intelligence. The Staff Training Week aims also at setting those concepts and skills in a context of basic theoretical frameworks. Furthermore, we hope to raise the participants’ levels of awareness and insight with regard to various issues of intercultural encounters, e.g. in the global classroom. The week will also give the participants opportunities for networking and for learning more about Linnaeus University. Contents Lectures, seminars, exercises and other activities that will help the participants develop their own intercultural communication skills through an understanding of: • Key terminology, theories and models related to intercultural communication studies; • Variations in communication patterns and possible connections to cultural diversity; • Conflict management in multicultural environments; • Cultural intelligence and intercultural communication competences; • The dynamics of the global classroom. The schedule for the week will also allow for free activities. Pedagogical approach The workshop is grounded in collaborative learning whereby the participants are expected to contribute with their own knowledge, understanding and experience. Many activities during the week are designed as “learning by doing and reflecting”. However, the participants are not expected to have expert theoretical knowledge in the field of communication or cultural studies – the level will be of beginners/intermediate. All activities will be in English. Contact person for applications: Lena Kulmala, Office of External Relations E-mail: [email protected]