1. Intercultural Teaching and Learning in a PBL Environment Lars Peter Jensen, Xiangyun Du

2. Overview Culture Intercultural issues at international programs
Reflection and discussions

3. Meeting cultures – Cultural shock what are the challenges entering a new culture?

4. Coming to DK – Sweden to learn innovative ways…
I don’t
understand
the lecturer
What on earth
the supervisor wanted
me to do?
Coming to DK – Sweden to learn innovative ways…
So difficult to do a
project in group work!
I am
Depressed!

5. Things that have been taken for granted in one culture might be unknown in another
Parents
Not for you maybe but it was for my parents!!!!!

6. East vs. West - Cultural Differences
comparison of Western and Asian culture in the eyes of a Chinese raised in Germany.

7. ME

8. WAYS OF LIFE

9. PARTY

10. TRENDS

11. STREET AT WEEKEND

12. SHOWER TIME

13. QUEUING

15. What are the most surprising experiences you have had with in an intercultural context?
(Jensen 2005:72)
You are so big. You can not stay here! Come back when you become smaller!

16. Intercultural competencies for future engineers
Globalized context
Interdisciplinary knowledge
Lifelong learning
Effective communication
Analytical skills
Designing and conducting experiments
Application of
mathematics and science knowledge
Diverse capabilities
Intercultural competencies
Team work
Identity and solve applied science problems
Project management
Social, environmental, and ethical concerns
National Academy of Engineering, The Engineer of 2020, 2004
EUR-ACE (Accreditation of European Engineering Programmes and Graduates,
- ABET:

17. Engineering programs are no longer just dominated by native young men.
Increase of diversity
Engineering programs are no longer just dominated by native young men.

18. Potential advantages from international programs at AAU
New experiences and eye-opener
Development of process competencies
Development of intercultural competencies
Prepare to become a global professional

19. Challenges and identified problems 1
Miscommunication arises due to
Use of second language (English) as a means of communication
Learning and working styles
Personality

20. Challenges and identified problems 2 Different beliefs on/ways of learning – different expectations
Knowledge
Answers
Opinions?
Educational background

21. Nobody knows the exact answers until the project is finished
Challenges and identified problems 2 Different beliefs on/ ways of learning
Nobody knows the exact answers until the project is finished
Students are responsible for managing their own learning
Learners are creating new knowledge
Studying in a PBL environment, Denmark

22. Challenges and identified problems 3 Can group work be an efficient way of learning?
Will they believe me because I am a girl??
NO, I can’t get up anyway
YES, we can meet at 8 tomorrow morning
It is my turn to talk?
If we don’t follow the supervisor’s suggestion, will he allow us to pass?
Listen to me, I am very experienced
He complains of my garlic, but he has coffee and carrots all the time!!!
They don’t understand even such easy things!!

23. Student’s reflection
`I have never worked in a group in my educational life… In group work, I preferred to listen when some students discussed intensely, because I could not understand why it was a question to discuss. Sometimes I could not follow their ideas or thinking. I need to change and actively work in the group.´ (Chinese female master student)

24. Is ethnicity the only reason that
Muslim
Is ethnicity the only reason that
makes us different?
Young girl
Philosopher
Animal
doctor
butcher
farmer
artist
wolf

25. Engineering culture – engineer study

26. Engineering culture – engineer study

27. Is culture something we are born with?
(Jensen 2005:18)
’I got culture from mom’s breast breeding’
Is culture something we are born with?

28. PBL in International programs, AAU, Denmark
Cultural reflections
PBL in International programs, AAU, Denmark
Different backgrounds in educational culture
Doing PBL in ‘the right’ way!
Root of PBL in DK
- Tradition of group
work in Denmark
- Critical thinking
- Emphasis on
- Collaboration
and participation
- Lower power gap
- Close link between
industry and university
A new culture to be established