This training helps participants to acquire intercultural competence. The complexity of communicative processes is examined and awareness of the underlying socio-psychological mechanisms is raised. Furthermore, the influence of cultural imprints on behavior and actions and the relationship between identity and culture are explained. The training enables participants to perceive the complexity of their environment more clearly. 

Contents

• Identity-communication-culture triad
• Realization levels of communication
• Intercultural communication
• Stereotypes and prejudices
• Socio-psychological mechanisms (e.g. selective perception; othering)
• Strategies for dealing with uncertainty and misunderstandings

→ Intercultural competence

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Unconscious biases are unconscious cognitive distortions, such as automatic stereotypes and other unconscious thought patterns that are deeply ingrained.
Unconscious biases are our blind spots that influence both our professional and private everyday behavior.

The Unconscious Bias seminar allows participants to dive deep into the subtle but powerful forces that can influence our daily decisions, thinking and actions.
In a world increasingly characterized by diversity and inclusion, it is crucial to become aware of unconscious biases that may be unnoticed and embedded in our thought processes.
Through interactive sequences and discussions, we will explore the origins of these biases by examining the social, cultural and psychological factors that contribute to their formation.
Together we will analyze how biases can affect our everyday work at the university. In addition, we will develop practical strategies to recognize and address unconscious bias.

A conscious understanding and the ability to recognize and address bias are crucial steps towards an inclusive and diverse work environment.

"It is easier to break the atom than to destroy prejudice" (Albert Einstein)

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Science is international. For this reason, thinking and acting internationally is decisive in the worldwide competition for students and scientists. We view it as our task to maintain teaching and research at the highest international level and to secure their continued development. Internationalisation is a long-term goal of our University.
This brings about new challenges with regard to the organization of everyday university life. Communication processes are different, the understanding of time and hierarchies is different and learning behavior and teaching cultures can also differ significantly depending on the cultural background.
Intercultural skills are the only way to successfully manage everyday life at an international university. Participants will acquire these in our training course, which is specifically designed for senior executive staff: You will learn about general cultural awareness, which will give you confidence in contact with people from other countries and cultures, and find out about sensible measures and rules to follow in intercultural interaction and communication. You will gain confidence in your behavior and communication skills and learn about your limits and possibilities.

Main topics

• Cultural identity: own and foreign
• Cultural dimensions: Factual vs. relationship orientation, understanding of hierarchy
• Cultural dimensions: Uncertainty avoidance, masculinity vs. femininity, understanding of time
• Direct vs. indirect communication, praise and criticism in different cultures
• Non-verbal and paraverbal communication
• Dealing with critical situations in an intercultural context

Methods

•  Active exercises on the topic of communication (direct vs. indirect, formal vs. informal) & perception and stereotypes
• Analysis and processing of “critical incidents” in intercultural encounters
• Development of recommendations for action and guidelines for internationalized everyday university life
• Group work, simulations, role plays and communication exercises

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The meeting of such different cultures as German and Chinese often involves cultural overlaps or misunderstandings that are neither explainable nor desired by those involved.
Based on their own German cultural orientations, the participants reflect on selected Chinese communication and behavior patterns with regard to successful communication at the university.

Together with the lecturer, they will work on solutions for target-oriented and successful intercultural communication. The lecturer will provide recommendations for establishing a successful strategy for culturally sensitive interaction with Chinese students and colleagues.

Key topics

• From the familiar to the unfamiliar: basics of intercultural communication
• The cultural rucksack: basic features of Chinese history and present-day China
• Chinese language
• Chinese thinking and learning culture
• Educational backgrounds
• Cultural orientations

Training methods

• Joint discussions
• Video sequences
• Case studies and role-plays

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 Contents

• India - economy, politics, society and religion, cultural characteristics
• Values and ways of thinking, hierarchies, roles and relationships, gender roles, teaching and learning culture
• Outstanding features of Indian communication
• Communication strategies in everyday life and in education
• Raising awareness of and dealing with culture-related misunderstandings, with special attention university communication

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The Graduate Academy awards qualifications in ‘Skills for Scientific Research,’ Research Management,’ ‘Science Communication’ (in English and German) as well as ‘Leadership’ and ‘Career Development,’ in particular for doctoral candidates and postdocs at TU Dresden.

See the courses for doctoral candidates

See the courses for postdocs