The aim of this course is to raise awareness of the factors that influence interaction in intercultural settings, to introduce approaches to intercultural communication and intercultural management, and to provide students with tools to enable them to work and communicate effectively across cultures.

The course is taught in ENGLISH.

After completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define "culture" as a complex concept and anticipate the effects of cultural differences on different areas of life.
• Demonstrate awareness of their cultural background and reflect on their preferences and experiences in different contexts.
• Reflect critically on stereotypes and prejudices and question entrenched images of other cultures.
• Analyze critical incidents and communication processes according to multiple influencing factors and develop solution-oriented strategies for different contexts.
• Develop a higher degree of empathy and reflective ability, tolerance of ambiguity, and the ability to deal with diversity through experiential activities like role plays, simulations, and group work and to apply it in intercultural contexts.
• Gain more in-depth knowledge of the respective host cultures.
• Demonstrate awareness of and reflect on cultural adaptation processes and develop coping strategies.
• Draw on exercises and tools tested in the course to reflect on upcoming intercultural and international experiences constructively.

Attendance is mandatory in at least 80% of in-class sessions. Absence is to be agreed upon in advance and has to be compensated for with an academic paper or equivalent task.​

You will receive further details from your course instructor at the start of the course.

The course will involve interactive teaching methods, including cultural simulations, group discussions and presentations.

The assessment of the course will include the following components:

• Class participation (20%)
• Group assignment, incl. oral presentation and written report (40%)
• Written individual assignment (40%)

Grading key (points/percent)

• 90 - 100   Sehr gut (1 - Excellent)
• 80 - 89     Gut (2 - Good)
• 70 - 79     Befriedigend (3 - Satisfactory)
• 60 - 69     Genügend (4 - Sufficient)
• < 60         Nicht genügend (5 - Fail)

You will be informed about the assessment details and criteria during the course.

This course is aimed at students who participate in a WU exchange program, after the official nomination by the WU International Office only.

PLEASE NOTE: Waiting list registration applies to this course.

This means you first sign up for the waiting list within the specified time frame. The number of places in the course is set to "0" during this time - this does not mean that the course is booked out at that moment.

After that, you will be formally registered if you are a student nominated to study abroad at a WU partner university. If you participate(d) in a Short Program or internship abroad, please send an e-mail to the course instructor to be assigned to the course.

If you do not meet the course prerequisites but would like to attend the course out of interest, please also sign up for the waiting list – in this case, it is essential that you send an e-mail to the course instructor with a short motivational statement. Admission will then take place depending on the capacity of the course.

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