“Understanding is the journey into the land of the other.”(Fazil Hüsnü Daglarca, poet)

To be understood stems from understanding, an ability to change perspective, and of reflection. In order to act socially sustainably in organisations, people are obliged to deal with a growingly complex role set in competent ways. Key competences and social skills play a vital role in dealing with the complexity of human diversity. Is it enough to travel, to attend a training, to read a book for “intercultural competence”? Probably it is not. In this trainings-seminar, approaches of intercultural understanding are examined in 7 workshops of 3 full hours: Theoretical frameworks are laid out, exercises and levels of reflection are experienced. Enlightenment and practical value from different approaches are examined. Participants explore the issue interactively with theory and by exercises, always in the light of entering a probably intercultural work life in the near future.

Framework: Social sustainability is one of three global goals noted in the Rio Convention 1992 by the UN World Commission of Environment and Development. While economic sustainability is a booster of change for modern organisations, ecological sustainability remains a constant task, while social sustainability is less looked at in the everyday workplace. Therefore, it is important to understand how organisational structures and subjective processing and coping are interlinked. This General Studies is comprised of four parts: 1 Postmodern issues, 2 Selected solutions, 3 Issues of further in-depth investigation, 4 Intercultural communication. It is based on sociological and psychological knowledge, focussing on theories and praxis concepts that allow gathering an understanding on how organisations and their role actors can shape a workplace “socially sustainably”. All seminar parts can be studied separately, or as a row.

The seminar uses English as a lingua franca. Coping with the effects of this setting is part of the reflection within the course, referring to differences between communication, comprehension and understanding within the working environment. Students are supported to express themselves. The interactive setting combines theoretical and practical parts, supporting reflection of own experiences. Students should be willing to participate in this manner. A field exploration for research-based learning will be part of this terms requirements.

Open for 1st semester students and above, recommended for Bachelor students before their internship and thesis, as well as for Master students, and open to Erasmus students and to students of other faculties. Please note: this course is limited to 20 participants.

2 SWS: Fortnightly, starting in the 2nd week of the term, (probably) Tuesdays 6 – 9 pm; 3 hours (s.t.!). Please register reliable via Stud.IP for your participation.

References
Hall, E. (1959). The Silent Language. Garden City. https://monoskop.org/images/5/57/Hall_Edward_T_The_Silent_Language.pdf
Hofstede, G. (1980). Cultures Consequences. International differences in work-related values. Sage.
Crisp, R. (ed.)(2010). The Psychology of Social and Cultural Diversity. Wiley-Blackwell.
Meyerhuber, S. et al. (2018). Theme-centered Interaction in Higher Education. A didactic approach for sustainable and living learning. Springer.

Performance requirement ECTS points
Preparation of an interactive lecture and exposition in small groups (6 CP / 3 CP).