In case of restrictions on Campus,  the course will be held in rotation mode. You attend in smaller groups in shorter time slots, scheduled during the course times as listed, in accordance with distancing rules, attendance is compulsory. A live video session, online course material, assignments, individual and group work as well as course readings will complement the shorter in-class sessions.
A group assignment (incl. presentation) and exam will be part of the course also in this alternative mode.

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.
• Be aware of their own cultural background.
• Reflect on stereotypes and prejudices participants may have about other cultures.
• Be able to perceive differences in behavior as cultural differences and identify the reasons for certain patterns of behavior.
• Be aware of the role of "culture" in communication processes and use the concepts acquired in the course to apply new communication strategies.
• Analyze critical incidents using a solution-oriented approach.
• Develop empathic skills in cross-cultural interactions through experiential modules like role plays and simulations.
• Be aware of cultural adaptation processes and effects and develop coping strategies.

Continuous attendance is required to complete this course. A maximum of 2 hours of absence can be agreed upon with the course instructor.

The assessment of the course will include the following criteria:

• Class participation (20%)
• Group assignment incl. presentation and report (40%)
• Written final exam (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)

All participants in the cross-cultural competence courses write the same exam, therefore it is scheduled at the same time.

The two alternative exam dates are included in the course dates (please see above the 2-hour time slots).

For details, please read the respective post on Learn@WU: "Ankündigungen", published at the beginning of the semester.

The course book "Reader Cross-Cultural Competence", Thielemann et al., 2020, is available at the Management Book Service (Building D2 on campus). The written exam is based on the readings. You can find sample questions on Learn@WU.

You will be informed about further assessment criteria details 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.

elisabeth.cassels-brown@wu.ac.at

The course will be taught in ENGLISH.