European Diploma in Intercultural Competence
Start date: Oct 1, 2009,
The project “EDICC” aims at developing an academic curriculum for Continuing Education on Intercultural Competence. Demand for intercultural competence in Europe is growing. Labour mobility, cooperation between countries and competitiveness of European businesses increase the need for culture sensitive working practices. In a culturally complex setting, it is necessary to be able to choose the right kind of working and communication strategies. Sensitivity to cultural differences may be natural for some people, but necessary for all. This project modifies and transfers existing theoretical, multidisciplinary knowledge of Intercultural Competence of partner organizations into work life oriented curricula on Intercultural Competence for adult learners. As a project output, a work life oriented curricula “European Diploma on Intercultural Competence” will be created. The project examines and develops further virtual learning possibilities in order to make it possible to combine studies with work and family life. Special attention will be put into inclusion of migrant students. Learning process of each participant will be incorporated with their work so that intercultural competence will be used as a tool to understand and solve critical situations in real work life. Therefore the expected learning results will have two levels: 1) Increase of intercultural competence at individual level, and 2) Increase of intercultural awareness and competence at organisation’s level. This learning process will be based on Mezirov’s theory of transformative learning, which emphasizes the understanding of one’s own previous experiences and meaning making processes. The study programme will therefore offer participating experts, whether from business, migration, education, gender or other fields, practical working tools for an intercultural setting, in order to perceive intercultural competence that enables more efficient and successful work in culturally diverse context.
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