Introduction
Introduction
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While the main focus of this website is helping people build greater cultural competence, sometimes referred to as intercultural competence, other elements of the human experience must be addressed. This toolkit seeks to help people develop greater cultural sensitivity, cultural humility, and cultural intelligence. It is intended to help people uncover and explore ways in which ideas of equity, diversity, inclusion, and safety intersect with personal socio-cultural experiences. Another goal is to support social justice movements to create a more fair world for all.
Activity: Look at the top image on this page. What does it tell you about the world between1662 and 1680 when this British tapestry was produced? How might we learn from the past to create a better future for all? Why is this important?
In the increasingly globalized world in which we live, identities that we each shape are also growing more complex. International influences occur for many on a daily basis and we are more interconnected than ever before in human history. Events taking place on one side of the earth are witnessed and debated in real time by people on the other side. Very few people in this world live in sheltered communities that are immune to exterior influences. According to UNESCO (2015):
The world is changing – education must also change. Societies everywhere are undergoing deep transformation, and this calls for new forms of education to foster the competencies that societies and economies need, today and tomorrow. This means moving beyond literacy and numeracy, to focus on learning environments and on new approaches to learning for greater justice, social equity and global solidarity. Education must be about learning to live on a planet under pressure. It must be about cultural literacy, on the basis of respect and equal dignity, helping to weave together the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
Throughout this toolkit, you will be presented with information and questions that are intended to spark curiosity and inspire further exploration of topics. The questions may also be used to guide deep conversations and connections between colleagues and peers. Use images and resources in this toolkit to guide your own reflections, thinking, and future actions.
For a model that highlights the many influences on a person's life, please see the, "Layered Ecological Model," near the bottom of the Creating a Culture of Change section.
Q: What does it mean to be culturally competent and why does it matter in the context of education?
Q: What does it mean to be culturally competent and why does it matter in the context of education?
Q: How does cultural competence intersect with concepts of equity, diversity, and inclusion?
Q: How does cultural competence intersect with concepts of equity, diversity, and inclusion?
What is cultural competence? – National Centre for Cultural Competence
Cultural Competence: What Does It Mean For Educators?
Cultural or Intercultural Competence: What it Means for Educators
Cultural or Intercultural Competence: What it Means for Educators
"In general terms, intercultural competence is the ability to communicate effectively in cross-cultural situations and to relate appropriately in a variety of cultural contexts" ("SAGE reference - Handbook of intercultural training," 2012).
Cultural competence is at the center of understanding and managing diversity in ways that are equitable and inclusive. The environment in which people live and develop in will play a significant role in their understanding and attitudes towards others. For many people, becoming culturally competent takes dedication and effort to shift old ways of thinking and behaving in order to develop more culturally competent capacities. We all have biases and prejudices that, if not attended to can make it difficult to shift and create new ways of thinking and behaving.
Taking a close look at oneself is the first step on the path to greater cultural competence. Becoming more aware of the experiences, needs and interests of others through case studies and role models can help to build greater cultural sensitivity and intelligence. Sharing and discussing experiences with people from groups other than our own will build connections and help to minimize fears or negative attitudes towards 'outsiders.'
Making a commitment to learn about cultural differences means taking steps to actively engage with others and work to develop cross-cultural communication skills. Having stronger cross-cultural communication skills means that educators will be better positioned to provide all of their students with a more equitable and inclusive learning experience. It also means that educators will be better able to manage and guide students so that they too learn to think and behave in culturally competent ways.
How Culture Drives Behaviours | Julien S. Bourrelle | TEDxTrondheim, Jul 10, 2015
How Culture Drives Behaviours | Julien S. Bourrelle | TEDxTrondheim, Jul 10, 2015
Julien argues how we see the World through cultural glasses. By changing the glasses you can change the way you interpret the World.
Julien is the founder of Mondå, a project that helps Norwegians benefit from cultural diversity while supporting talented foreigners in their efforts to adapt and connect with Norway. He is educated as an astronautical engineer and is currently completing a doctoral degree in Norway. He is originally from Canada and speaks English, Norwegian, French and Spanish. He has been active in higher education policy at the European level, at the national level in Norway and locally at different institutions. He became the first foreign board member of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Other positions include the Norwegian national research committee (UHR), the board of the national Norwegian doctoral organisation and the presidency of NTNU’s doctoral organisation.
"Displaying the cultural competency behaviors of active listening, empathy, and effective engagement can help us to create a welcoming environment and establish the appreciation of similarities and differences among cultures" ("Cultural competence: An important skill set for the 21st century," 2016).
"Displaying the cultural competency behaviors of active listening, empathy, and effective engagement can help us to create a welcoming environment and establish the appreciation of similarities and differences among cultures" ("Cultural competence: An important skill set for the 21st century," 2016).
Top Image: Textile-Embroidered - MMA 64.101.1347 (detail), from a table carpet showing the Four Continents, the Seasons, and Four Planets, circa between 1662 and 1680, British, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/229045?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevance&what=Textiles&ft=globe&offset=20&rpp=20&pos=28
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