Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- understand the complex phenomenon of culture and how it affects communication
- develop intercultural competence and intercultural communication skills to be an effective and inclusive communicator in cross-cultural settings and conflicts
- understand global citizenship and cultural diversity and their role in sustainable development.

Implementation and methods of teaching

Lectures, group and pair work, individual/small group assignments

The course will be taught in blended format with classroom and Zoom sessions.

Timing and attendance

The duration of the term.
80% attendance and active participation expected/required

Learning material and recommended literature

Hofstede; G., Hofstede, G. J., & Minkov M. Cultures and Organizations: Software of the mind. Intercultural Cooperation and Its Importance for Survival. 2010: 3rd Ed.
Lewis, R. (2006): When Cultures Collide: Leading across Cultures. 2018. 4th Ed.
Other study material provided by the teacher on Moodle.

Alternative completion methods

No alternate completion methods.

Working life cooperation

The course is not directly connected with student working life. However, throughout the course there is a concerted effort to promote and connect students with their workplace contexts.

Exam retakes

Received grades final.
Improving/upgrading grades for course assignments/assignment parts/assignment-online examinations not allowed.

Learning environment

Classroom, Zoom and online learning (The Moodle platform is used for course/lecture material.).

Student time use and work load

The estimated workload for students is 135 hours. This includes attending lessons, all coursework. preparatory exercises and assignments.

Contents

The course focuses on three major aspects
a. The dynamics of culture
- Culture as a multidisciplinary phenomenon
- Issues related to bias/stereotypes/Generalizations/othering/polarization/diversity
Intercultural communication
b. intercultural communication
- effect of cultural on language and interpretation
- theoretical framework for understanding cultural differences (Hofstede, Lewis)
c. Inclusion and Diversity
- Cross-cultural conflict resolution
- Understanding DEI with focus on cultural/ethnic diversity (Finnish and International)
- global citizenship education and its connection to SDGs?

Additional information for students: previous knowledge etc.

The course is taught at the English skill level CEFR B2. If you have concerns about the level of your language skills, you should discuss this with the course lecturer prior to the beginning of the course.

If you have previous studies or work experience that you feel is equivalent to this course, then you should contact the course lecturer via email prior to the beginning of the course to discuss applying for Recognition of Prior Learning.

Assessment scale

1-5

Failed (0)

The student has not completed the assessment tasks in this course to a satisfactory degree and a result has not been able to demonstrate a sound understanding of the course content.

Assessment criteria: level 1 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student has
- generally acquired cultural, behavioral and communication techniques, models and processes in multicultural settings.
- a basic understanding of the nature of diversity and some knowledge of how to apply this to create inclusive workplaces and communication.
- attended the course lessons and completes course tasks/assignment parts/assignment(s).

Assessment criteria: level 3 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student
- is able to select the appropriate cultural, behavioral and communication techniques, models and processes for different situations in multicultural settings.
- has a good understanding of the dynamics of diversity, its effective on workplace productivity and communication needs. Further they show ability to apply this knowledge to workplace communication habits and inclusive practice.

The student actively participates in course lessons and completes the course task(s)/assignment parts/ assignment(s)

Assessment criteria: level 5 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student
- is able to professionally select the appropriate cultural, behavioral and communication techniques, models and processes for different situations in multicultural settings.
- has a strong understanding of the dynamics of diversity, its effective on workplace productivity and communication needs. Further they show an effective ability to apply this knowledge to workplace communication habits and inclusive practice.

The student actively participates in course lessons and completes the course task(s)/assignment parts/ assignment(s)