At the onset of the pandemic, the Office of International Relations (OIR) recognized the need to boost staff morale and sustain engagement in international activities during a time when travel and student mobility was at a standstill.
Through brainstorming sessions and conversations with colleagues, OIR staff members Janka Pieper, director of communications, and Jennifer Gerrard, director of international agreements and visitors, developed a seminar series on cultural competency and communication, an area they had been wanting to address and now finally found the right opportunity. The Navigating Cultures in the Global Workplace workshop series was born and soon became an official professional development opportunity under the office’s One World \ One Northwestern initiative.
This initiative is part of OIR’s effort to strengthen the university’s international infrastructure, which is key to expanding Northwestern’s global footprint and reputation. A global university needs not only globally skilled and engaged students and scholars, but also knowledgeable and involved staff members who understand the broader international context and impact of their activities and roles. International skills include cultural awareness as well as an understanding of how other units and schools engage with the world.
The 5-session workshop series of presentations, discussions and activities provides an interactive opportunity for reflection and deeper understanding of cultural differences in the workplace. Facilitated by certified trainers Gerrard and Pieper, two long-time staff members with deep experience in international education and programing, the workshop quickly became popular among Northwestern’s professional community.
In the weeks following her participation in the workshop, Marysia Galent, a research administrator at the School of Communication and a NURAP member, began to notice the immense impact the sessions had on how she approached communication across the university in her day-to-day activities.
“The Navigating Cultures workshop helped me understand that what I may view as obstacles were actually elements of different cultures floating around in the communication process. I learned about different points of view, approaches to problem solving, and ways of communicating – all coming from being part of a different culture or community. I truly recommend this workshop as a way to learn about others and appreciate other cultures and experiences,” Galent said.
Every day at Northwestern, staff members such as Galent encounter colleagues, students, faculty, and staff of all different identities and backgrounds. NURAP members especially can benefit from the myriad of aptitudes taught in the seminar, including a greater understanding of the multiple dimensions of culture and how to recognize them in the workplace, an increased sensitivity to differences, and a higher awareness of one’s own behaviors, values, and preferences.
Gerrard and Pieper have conducted a number of these virtual workshops over the last couple of years, creating a cross-university network of culturally competent Northwestern professionals. The application deadline for the next workshop (Spring 2022) is March 21st.
To learn more about the Navigating Cultures Workshop, visit this page: https://www.northwestern.edu/international-relations/staff/navigating-cultures-workshop.html
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The Office of International Relations, under the leadership of Vice President for International Relations Dévora Grynspan, advances the strategic goals of the university in a global context by developing and strengthening international partnerships, providing international opportunities for faculty and administrators, hosting foreign delegations and events, and supporting and integrating global activities on campus and abroad.
The One World \ One Northwestern initiative, the Office of International Relations’ signature program for staff members, began as a quarterly luncheon series a few years ago to meaningfully engage staff across the university in internationalization activities. Since then, the initiative has expanded and offers a range of activities, including affinity groups, two grant programs, a newsletter, and as mentioned above, the Navigating Cultures workshop series.
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By:
Jennifer Gerrard, Director of International Agreements and Visitors, International Relations
Janka Pieper, Director of Communications, International Relations