A professional development series for international and domestic graduate and professional students at the University of Iowa
This program offered by International Student and Scholar Services extends the success of our Building Our Global Community series for staff and faculty by creating a special series tailored to graduate and professional students at the University of Iowa. Engaging Across Cultures is a non-academic, professional development certificate program that creates an opportunity for UI graduate and professional students to learn more about fostering an intercultural campus while honing skills that will carry into the future workplace. Content will include subject matter of interest for both domestic as well as international students. Participants will earn a certificate by completing a series of sessions (a required introductory session + 2 electives), which may also be included in a professional development section on a résumé or CV.
Through the introductory session and specialized sessions, participants in Engaging Across Cultures will learn:
- skills to recognize their own culture(s) and how their cultural lens influences their interactions
- techniques for developing and applying intercultural skills in academia, including in the classroom, lab, or research group
- strategies to enhance intercultural communication and understand the needs of second language learners
- skills to navigate cultural expectations in the job search process
- strategies to utilize in the professional context outside higher education
- information on specific countries/culture group
Core Session
Introduction to Engaging Across Cultures
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | 3:30-5:00 pm | Zoom
Instructors: Brandon Paulson, Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Description:
This introduction session will introduce the Engaging Across Cultures certificate program and share an overview of the international student population at the University of Iowa. Participants will have opportunity to learn about culture and the cultural adjustment experienced when living in a new culture. Participants will examine their own cultural lens and how it influences their interactions.
Participants who attend this session will learn:
- skills to recognize their own culture(s) and how their cultural lens influences their interactions
- changes occurring when living in a new culture and strategies to assist with the transition
- strategies to enhance intercultural communication
Elective Sessions
Engaging ESL Learners Across Disciplines
Monday, October 9, 2023 | 3:00-4:20pm | Zoom
Instructors: Anastasia Williams, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Center for Teaching, and Megan Wright, Graduate Student, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Description:
This session will focus on how to consider and include the perspective of students with English as an additional language in all classrooms. We will invite participants to reflect on their own experiences to inform our conversation and discuss how to accommodate the needs of diverse learner backgrounds.
Participants in this session will learn:
- teaching strategies intended to welcome ESL learners
- techniques for giving transparent feedback to all students
- inclusive assignment and learning activity design
Developing Your Intercultural Insight
Friday, October 13 & 20, 2023 | 3:30-5:00pm | Zoom
Instructors: Shuhui Lin, Coordinator of International Student Support and Engagement; International Student and Scholar Services/Multicultural and International Student Support and Engagement and Brandon Paulson, Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Description:
In this two-part session, participants will learn about developing their intercultural insights by exploring the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). The IDI generates an individual profile of “worldview orientation to difference,” and is based on the research of Dr. Milton Bennett and Dr. Mitchell Hammer. Participants will need to complete the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) after Part 1 of the session. Participants will complete an online student debrief course after completing this session to learn about their individual profile and discuss their individual development plan for intercultural growth.
Participants who attend this session will learn:
- how to describe the intercultural growth continuum and the stages of intercultural development
- where the IDI indicates they are on the intercultural growth continuum
- how to develop a personal plan for their intercultural growth to be able to work more effectively across cultures
EAC: Demystifying the Academic Job Search Process
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 | 3:00-4:30pm | In-Person (1117 UCC)
Instructor: Brady Krien, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Student Success & Assessment, Graduate Success Center, The Graduate College
Description:
This session will help students better understand how academic culture(s) impact the academic job search process. Participants will learn about how to navigate the academic job search process and develop application materials that effectively reflect the values and priorities of the institutions and departments to which they are applying.
Participants in this session will learn:
• tactics for identifying the cultural values and priorities communicated in academic job descriptions
• the tasks and priorities of various academic job documents like cover letters, research and teaching statements, and DEI statements
• strategies for demonstrating alignment with institutional culture in academic job materials
Navigating Intercultural Conflicts
Wednesday, November 8 & 15, 2023| 3:30-4:30pm | Zoom
Instructors: Rudia W. Kihura, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology & Early Childhood, Black Hills State University, and Brandon Paulson, Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Description:
In this two-part interactive session, you will learn about the four intercultural conflict styles. You will discover your preferred cultural approach for resolving conflict and that of others by completing the Intercultural Conflict Style (ICS) inventory developed by Dr. Mitchell Hammer. In addition, there will be opportunities to apply ICS concepts in practice through discussion and case studies.
Participants in this session will be able to:
- describe the four styles of the ICS
- identify their personal preferred conflict style and how others approach navigating conflicts
- discuss potential application in work and home settings
Core Session
Introduction to Engaging Across Cultures
Wednesday, February 7, 2024| 3:30-5:00pm | Zoom
Instructor: Brandon Paulson, Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Description:
This introduction session will introduce the Engaging Across Cultures certificate program and share an overview of the international student population at the University of Iowa. Participants will have opportunity to learn about culture and the cultural adjustment experienced when living in a new culture. Participants will examine their own cultural lens and how it influences their interactions.
Participants who attend this session will learn:
• skills to recognize their own culture(s) and how their cultural lens influences their interactions
• changes occurring when living in a new culture and strategies to assist with the transition
• strategies to enhance intercultural communication
Elective Sessions
EAC: Story Stitch
Friday, February 23, 2024| 3:00-4:30pm | Zoom
Instructors: Pauline Beazer James, Senior Advisor, International Student and Scholar Services; Rudia W. Kihura, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology & Early Childhood, Black Hills State University; and Brandon Paulson, Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Description:
In this interactive session, we will engage in the Story Stitch activity to learn about each other through the stories shared and conversations ignited. This activity involves splitting into groups with each member introducing themselves, and then the group taking turns answering story card questions with members having the opportunity to build on each other’s answers using the stitch cards. By engaging in this activity, we will learn more about the unique backgrounds of the group and become more connected.
Participants in this session will learn:
• how storytelling can build trust, create group cohesion, and develop interpersonal connections
• different perspectives and experiences
• valuable tool to foster deeper conversations
EAC: Employment
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 | 1:30-2:30pm | Zoom
Instructors: Jennifer Teitle, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Graduate Development and Postdoctoral Affairs of the Graduate College and Brady Krien, Ph.D., MLIS, Assistant Director for Graduate Student Success & Assessment, Graduate College
Description:
This session will help guide graduate and professional students to map out their career path after graduation. Facilitators will help tackle some concerns international graduate students might have regarding employment in the United States. Facilitators will assist participants to discover potential career interests and prepare for future employment.
Participants in this session will learn:
• skills to navigate cultural expectations in the job search process
• strategies to utilize in the professional context outside the University of Iowa
• skills to prepare for applying for a job and prioritizing materials in job application
• job interview strategies and techniques
• strategies to effectively negotiate and communicate with potential employers
EAC: Navigating Intercultural Conflicts
Friday, March 22 & 29, 2024| 3:30-4:30pm | Zoom
Instructors: Pauline Beazer James, Senior Advisor, International Student and Scholar Services; and Brandon Paulson, Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Description:
In this two-part interactive session, you will learn about the four intercultural conflict styles. You will discover your preferred cultural approach for resolving conflict and that of others by completing the Intercultural Conflict Style (ICS) inventory developed by Dr. Mitchell Hammer. In addition, there will be opportunities to apply ICS concepts in practice through discussion and case studies.
Participants in this session will be able to:
• describe the four styles of the ICS
• identify their personal preferred conflict style and how others approach navigating conflicts
• discuss potential application in work and home settings
EAC: Developing Your Intercultural Insight
Monday, April 1 & 8, 2024 | 3:30-5:00pm | Zoom
Instructors: Pauline Beazer James, Senior Advisor, International Student and Scholar Services; and Brandon Paulson, Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Description:
In this two-part session, participants will learn about developing their intercultural insights by exploring the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). The IDI generates an individual profile of “worldview orientation to difference,” and is based on the research of Dr. Milton Bennett and Dr. Mitchell Hammer. Participants will need to complete the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) before the session. Participants will have an opportunity to sign-up and attend a follow-up 1 hour meeting with a trained IDI facilitator to receive feedback on their individual profile and discuss their individual development plan for intercultural growth.
Participants who attend this session will learn:
• how to describe the intercultural growth continuum and the stages of intercultural development
• where the IDI indicates they are on the intercultural growth continuum
• how to develop a personal plan for their intercultural growth to be able to work more effectively across cultures
BGC/EAC: Enhancing Your Intercultural Insight (Advanced)
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 | 10:00am-12:00pm | Zoom
Instructors: Pauline Beazer James, Senior Advisor, International Student and Scholar Services; Shuhui Lin, Coordinator of International Student Support and Engagement; International Student and Scholar Services/Multicultural and International Student Support and Engagement; and Brandon Paulson, Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services
Cross-listed with Building Our Global Community
Description:
Designed for participants who have attended the Developing Your Intercultural Insight session and completed the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). Participants in this advanced session will revisit the IDI by discussing real world applications. Participants should attend the session prepared for in-depth discussions about the IDI and its application. Participants who completed the IDI in a previous semester will have the opportunity to complete the IDI again and sign-up to attend a follow-up 1 hour meeting with a trained IDI facilitator to discuss their intercultural growth.
Participants who attend this session will be able to:
• critically reflect on their intercultural experiences
• find out where the IDI indicates you are on the intercultural growth continuum
• identify opportunities for applying the IDI to practice
Participants may take sessions individually, without working toward a certificate. Successful fulfillment of Engaging Across Cultures requires completion of the introductory session and two elective sessions. Engaging Across Cultures is free of charge to participants and the program does not offer course credit for participating in it. Individuals who complete the professional development certificate program will receive a certificate and be recognized on the International Programs website.
"Engaging Across Cultures' provided me a comfortable and open zone to share my experience related to learning, teaching, and life in Iowa as well as in the U.S. A. I appreciate this valuable opportunity provided by ISSS, allowing diverse communities to represent ourselves equally and present ourselves confidently. Also, all presenters and participants are respectful and friendly to each other, listening to others expectations and perspectives. It is worth to be mentioned that the shared ideas and experiences while brainstorming solutions is really interesting and helpful for further personal and professional development."
Program Contact
Contact Brandon Paulson with questions about Engaging Across Cultures by email brandon-paulson@uiowa.edu or phone (319) 335-0335.
UI Accessibility Statement
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Brandon Paulson in advance at (319) 335-0335.