Development of intercultural competences among Danish and foreign students? From a Seminar at Copenhagen University College of Engineering 16. Marts 2011 - Bjørn Nygaard www.idethandling.com bjorn@idethandling.com Edited and presented by Lars Peter Jensen

Culture is in most things we do Even in how to present one self! ”A Japanese business man visited a Fortune 500 company in New York. He was asked to give a speech, which he started by saying: ”I know that Americans often begin a speech with a joke. In Japan, we often start with an apology. As a compromise, I will apologize for not making a joke.” I wondered how to start this presentation - do I go straight on without much self presentation as we often do in DK. Do I crack a joke and entertain as the often do in the anglesaxon parts of the world? In some cultures you use all the title you can think of – in others modisty is a vertue. I choose to let a short resumé speak for it self www.idethandling.com

Project about internationalization DACIN internationalization project 2009 – 2011 Participants SDU, VIA University College, IHK and (AAU) 3 engineering educations, where classes/teams of mixed Danish and foreign students work together in one semester Investigated question: Do cooperation between the two groups make a difference - perhaps with teaching input? Project members from engineering educations, involved teachers, consultant Bjørn Nygaard and anthropology student Jonas Søgaard Green

Method Development of targets and success criteria Questionnaire surveys (before and after): Not finished/not valid Focus group interviews with 53 students and 8 teachers – app. 2/3 international and 1/3 Danish Observations at IHK by Jonas Søgaard Green (Anthropology student) www.idethandling.com

Method Development of targets and success criteria Questionnaire surveys (before and after): Not finished/not valid Focus group interviews with 53 students and 8 teachers – app. 2/3 international and 1/3 Danish Observations at IHK by Jonas Søgaard Green (Anthropology student) www.idethandling.com

Positive results of cultural encounter Practice to work in multi cultural teams - they know this will be needed in future jobs; + on CV A spice to life Better English More accurate in the formulations and makes use of multiple ways of explanation than usual Foreign students: Learning to work in groups www.idethandling.com

Project objectives: increased intercultural competences better managers and colleagues Short term effect:   Dialogue on how to work together Can manage conflict in groups The students have established international / Danish network Students seeking academic knowledge with one another across cultures and beyond danish borders Yes, about cooperation: establish rules; who writes what; etc. Not particularly good at this. Difficult - and no help from teachers. Not in particularly high degree - are grouped. Asking but learning is only one way Teachers ask but don’t use it www.idethandling.com

Preliminary Conclusion on Intercultural Competences Trend: groups that work best: only people from Northwest Europe/USA or have only one member from other countries There ARE more knowledge about a) culture can be a challenge b) learning and collaborative differences Some still do not know how to deal with the challenges, while many others are in progress but still has some way to go Intercultural competence is strengthened but not sufficient ”It is now clear to me that working with people from other cultures is difficult but I have not yet found solutions.” www.idethandling.com

Which type of cultural encounter are we aiming at? Assimilation – the international students behave like Danish students and e.g. learn how to share knowledge and talk openly to the lectures Integration – they adjust on all important areas but keep a “cultural flavour” Fusion – a double adjustment, where stakeholders test each others behaviour and learning stiles etc. Colonisation – reverse assimilation www.idethandling.com

International students call for fusion For some it's about linking control, respect and freedom in a new way: ”I think they should finde a middleway between responsibility and freedom. More consequences but still a lot of self commitment. That will create better group work, and fewer drop-outs.” [the rest of the focus group nods] (international student) “I do not think the Danes should change their system. You should preserve self-control but more respect of the teachers should be created.” (international student) www.idethandling.com

Preliminary recommendations (1) Language Policy + consequence + screening Explain explicit codes: what is teamwork; how to write reports Fusion - how we maintain the best from DK and meet the foreign students, where they are? Rule / consequence + Foreign Teachers ”If you are 10 minutes late you are not allowed in class but will have to wait for the next class.” Det er et væsentligt element i den interkulturelle kompetence, at man lærer at håndtere disse. Men lykkes det ikke efterlader det de studerende i en både uddannelsesmæssig skrøbelig situation og i frustration over samarbejde på tværs af kulturer. Da en del studerende samtidig har givet udtryk for at de ikke oplever at få brugbar assistance fra underviserne på dette område, anbefales det, at der arbejdes med at etablere et. Det er alt andet lige sandsynligt, at dette kan forhindre nogen studerende fra at droppe ud af studiet. www.idethandling.com

Preliminary recommendations (2) Empower Intercultural Communication - especially the ability to explore + conflict management Support social life - team building = a must Conflict management - educate supervisors in intercultural conflict management Support the students in assessment of the social contract + consequences More than one semester's work www.idethandling.com