Internationalising Higher Education

This poster will outline the contents and objectives of a workshop focusing on enhancing intra and inter-cultural face-to-face communication. The development of intra and inter-cultural competencies is a central component of the internationalisation process. It is defined as effective communication between the students and staff of many nations. As a staff member or student at most UK universities, we find ourselves talking and listening to people who may or may not share the same dialect or first language. Added to this, our specific cultural orientation inevitably determines the style in which we communicate face-to-face. Underlying our communication styles are the many different assumptions, beliefs and prejudices that prevail both within and between cultures and nations. The overall objective of this workshop is to examine barriers and explore solutions to enhance learning in an intra and inter-cultural environment. By the end of the workshop, the participant can expect to recognise their own cultural bias and the bias of others; share experiences, resources and ideas - learn from and with each other - about working in a diverse environment; enhance awareness of the skills necessary to communicate effectively; and practice skills in a supportive environment. This poster will discuss the workshop and the importance of intra and inter-cultural communication.