Collaboration (2)

“It is important to know ourselves, to understand our own ways of doing things and how we react to situations […] It is important to question our principles and our knowledge […] only then will we be able to understand others (Jacinta).” (quote in Pinto 2018)

In the past three weeks, you have met the members of your team, discussed what you need to make it work, and started working together in the digital course. In this step, you learn more about intercultural competency and assess your own attitudes, knowledge, and skills in this regard. You will reflect on collaboration within the STEP programme so far, and define your personal goals for the upcoming weeks. 

This step follows up on Collaboration (1) and consists of two parts: Intercultural collaboration, so far so good? and Share your learning (and make it work even better). The first part is covered during the physical meeting on campus with your fellow students from your own university. After that, you need about 1 hour for the team reflection in the second part. You can find the general planning of the course here.

Intercultural competency: three steps (10 minutes)

During the online starting session of STEP, you’ve met with the other participants online and made a start with your team. One of the assignments focused on your own cultural background, what you have to offer, and which competencies you want to develop. The international character of this project offers 'an excellent opportunity for students and staff to explore and practice the development of intercultural competencies' (The Higher Education Academy, 2014).

According to David Pinto, it takes three steps to develop your intercultural competency:

• Getting to know your own (culture-related) norms and values. Which rules and codes influence your thinking, acting and communicating?

• Getting to know the other person's (culture-related) norms, values ​​and codes of conduct by investigating the possible meaning of the other person's ‘different’ behavior.

• Defining your response to the major differences in norms and values ​​in the given situation. Then determine where your limits lie in terms of adjustment to and acceptance of the other person and explain these boundaries clearly to one another. 

So far so good? Group reflection on (international) collaboration so far (20 minutes) 

When you look at the first two steps, what are your findings so far?

• Step 1: your own (culture-related) norms and values

  • • Take a look again at the outcomes of the first break-out exercise during the previous session. Discuss with the group whether this is still accurate. Are there aspects you would like to add or change? Write these additions down on the whiteboard or use post-its.

    • When you look at your own contribution (from an intercultural point of view) to your team, what did you notice? What did you bring and what could have been an obstacle for the others?

• Step 2: the other person's (culture-related) norms, values and codes of conduct 

  • • While working and communicating with the group members from other universities, what did you notice? Which similarities do you see? And differences? What did you learn about the other groups, what does it bring you, what stimulated you? Did you experience difficulties or obstacles while working and communicating with your international team? Are there any ‘shared’ experiences? Write these down.

    • Now choose one of the most commonly shared or urgent experiences that you would like to tackle. This can be an experience related to ‘the other’, to yourselves or to intercultural collaboration or communication in general.

Peer group coaching (45 minutes) 

For this exercise, use the experience selected during the previous part and choose one of the intervision methods below – which one suits your group best?

During the physical meeting on campus with your fellow students from your own university, you were able to focus on what intercultural competency means, and to reflect on your experience so far regarding working and communicating in an international team. After this, take another hour to get back together with your team members for some feedback and some feed forward:
 

Feedback 

• Discuss among your team what insights the previous session has given you, 

  • • regarding intercultural competency (try to consider what this means in general for collaboration and communicating in an international team)

    • regarding your own experience so far, related to

      • • your own (cultural) background and yourself

        • interacting with the (cultural) background of the other team members

Please note: try to stay away from assumptions, judgements, prejudices, etc., and use constructive language while sharing your insights.

Feed forward

• As a group, can you formulate some tips and tricks for optimizing the teamwork in this particular, international setting?

• Take some time to review the team planning you prepared at the end of the previous step on collaboration. Are there any adjustments to be made?

• Lastly, if you want to, you can share the personal goal(s) you set for yourself regarding your (intercultural) competencies with your team members. In any case, try to keep them in mind while returning to your case study research and further assignments. At the close of the digital course, you have the opportunity to reflect on your goal(s). Furthermore, you and your team members wll set collective goals for the exchange week to come. Go to Goals and preparations for further instructions.