International and Multicultural Competence

22.03.2023

International and Multicultural Competence 

Introduction 

On this day I partecipated in my second webinar and it was about International and Multicultural Competence. I was in the same group as Pauline, Jin and Ivânia and we worked very well togheter. It was my second webinar and I was more prepared to work from the perspective of the webinar and also I was helped by my group mates. 

The topic was very interesting and I think that both the two group worked well because the presentations were stimulating and we had the opportunity to discuss together. 

Multiculturalism: terminology and concept 

Multiculturalism 

We started our presentation with a discussion about multiculturalism. We asked the other people to try to give a definition of multiculturalism and to find both the benefits and the challenges of it. 

https://padlet.com/marysanguineti/multiculturalism-nzr4eldu9kzkbpce 

In today's world, multiculturalism has become an essential part of our lives. It is crucial to understand the various terminologies associated with multiculturalism to comprehend the concept better. Multiculturalism is an essential aspect of modern society, and understanding the different terminologies related to it is crucial. Understanding these terminologies will enable us to appreciate and respect cultural diversity and build better relationships with people from different cultures.

Multiculturalism is linked to migrations and globalization, which are inevitable phenomena. It is about living together with other cultures, by respecting and helping each other. 

Multiculturalism expands​ when minority groups deserve acknowledgements and recognitions within dominant group in politics.​ It give chances​ for entire society to be recognised certain cultural differences in policy making by citizens, public administrators and leaders​. 

The key words in order to understand multiculturalism are cultures, races, ethnicities and minority groups because they refer to a world or a society or a group in which numerous distinct ethnic and cultural groups coexist. 

International vs Multicultural 

We proposed another discussion about the international and multicultural terms in order to reflect on what they mean and the differences between them. We had a great discussion and we also reflected on our group and our training: we have so much competencies about this topic and different backgrounds, so we are a good example of working in an international and multicultural environment. We are international students with an international and multicultural background who are trying to integrate in the finnish system by studying the finnish education system, using that way of learning and teaching. 

Do we have to be international to be multicultural? 

International refers to anything that pertains to different countries or nations, so an international culture is something that extends beyond national borders, not confined to a country, a people group or even a continent. The definition from the dictionary says that multicultural refers to the presence of people from different cultures. 

To answer the question above, I would say no because every country offers different cultural realities, nowadays more than ever due to migrations, so we could be multicultural even in our home countries. 

A multicultural education helps people and students to improve their critical thinking skills on topics surrounding cultural and social issues, integration, equality and equity and to reduce prejudices. It gives a new and a different point of view and growing up with this idea helps to develop the exchange of viewpoints. People will be able to understand the unique cultures and this will allow them to become more openminded. 

National - Local and Multinational - Global 

We had another discussion about national, local, multinational and global. We asked to try to give a definition of multinational and global by saying some differences between these two terms and then we asked to think about national and local things about our own countries. 

https://padlet.com/drivemaria001/national-local-and-multinational-global-kie5nqehcpeujoy 

It has been a good discussion because we discovered something particular and new about our own countries but at the same time we reflected about those terms. 

National refers to anything that pertains to a specific country or nation, so for examples we have national holidays, national food, national languages, and so on. While local refers to anything that pertains to a specific region, city or community. Local culture is everything that we create and share as part of our lives in the place where we live or work. It’s something that is shared inside a community that distinguish the group from the others. It could be local food, festivals, dialects, clothing, music, etc. 

This kind of culture contributes to build a sense of local identity and solidarity because it is linked to the small community and it’s not on a large scale. 

Multinational refers to anything that involves multiple nations or countries. For example, multinational corporations have operations and offices in multiple countries. ​In education, multinational approach might involve the incorporation of each student's background. It also could help students to appreciate diversity and the richness that belongs to different cultures. 

In contrast, global refers to anything that pertains to the entire world, regardless of national or regional boundaries. Global represents the whole world, so something that is shared all over the world that has to encounter the needs of every culture that is involved. A global approach in education might involve teachers and students about global issues, for examples human rights and global warming, reflecting on how these issues affect people all over the world. This could help to point out the connections and the interdependencies between countries and people all over the world. 

Culture and subculture 

Culture refers to the ideas, customs and social behavior shared by a group, while subculture is a culture shared by a smaller group of people who are also part of a larger culture, but the smaller group has a specific cultural attributes that set them apart from the larger group. 

Cultures refers to the shared values, beliefs, customs, practises and behaviors of a group of people who belong to a particular society or community. Culture is often associated with a country or a region, but it can also be used to describe the shared caracteristics of a group of people based on other factors such as religion, language or ethnicity.  

Subculture on the other hand, refers to a group of people who share some of the characteristics of the larger culture but also have their own unique beliefs, values, customs and practices. Subcultures can develop within a larger culture based on factors such as age, gender, music... Subculture is typically smaller and more specific. 

To promote positive and inclusive multicultural environments in education, educators should encourage students to celebrate their cultural identity while also promoting the appreciation and the respect of other cultures and subcultures. It is important to encourage the students to share their own cultural experiences and perspectives in order to expand knowledge opportunities. 

Cross-cultural and Intercultural 

Cross-cultural deals with the comparison of different culture and it refers to interactions between people from different cultures, whereas intercultural describes communities in which there is a deep understanding and respect for all cultures. Intercultural communication focuses on the mutual exchange of ideas and cultural norms and the development of deep relationships. In an intercultural society, no one is left unchanged because everyone learns from one another and grows together. 

So, in a nutshell, intercultural communication relates to interactions among people from different cultures, while cross-cultural communication involves comparing interactions among people from the same culture to those from another culture. 

The intercultural thinking helps to develop the ability to adapt to different cultural contexts and to communicate effectively across cultures. An intercultural education program may involve students in learning the history, customs and traditions of the different cultures. The cross-culture experience could help the students to appreciate and to understand differencies in their community and in the world, while the intercultural education can help to develop the skills and competencies needed to effectively navigate cultural differencies. 

Cultural diversity of UNESCO 

Nowadays everybody is travelling for different reasons, but everywhere you go you would like to be respected and taken into account for who you are and for your own backgrounds. This is one of the basis human rights and UNESCO are taking them into account in the Universal Declaration of Cultural Diversity which has four main points: identity, diversity and pluralisms, cultural diversity and human rights, cultural diversity and creativity and then cultural diversity and international solidarity. 

Talking about identity, diversity and pluralism, UNESCO focused on uniqueness: how each individual is unique, according to the backgrounds, religions, languages, etc. 

UNESCO created 12 articles document that go through all these topics, among which equality, cultural backgrounds, languages, ethnicities, etc. There is the need, nowadays more than ever, to create rules about that because people are moving and they are looking for better way of living. 

The Article 1 is about diversity and I think it's very important because we are all different and this is something we need because it helps us to grow, to open to others, to learn to accept and respect differences. This concept is the basis of life. 

The Article 2 is about cultural diversity, cultural pluralism and social cohesion, how people can coexist in peace and respectfully. It is not enough to just live in the same place, but we all should know how to live well together, how to collaborate for an inclusive society. 

The Article 3 is about cultural diversity and development. Cultural diversity is a source of richness for all and it helps people to grow in many scopes. It enriches everyone and it brings to everyone's life a new point of view that allows personal development. 

Cultural diversity at work and school environment 

Multiculturalism at work comes true when the work environment recognizes the values of that diversity. People with different backgrounds, languages and experiences can work together in a respectful environment. It's about inclusivity all round on a daily base life. 

It is also about creating policies and practices that promote diversity and inclusivity. Multicultural workplace also values the contribution of all the employes and promotes awareness, understanding and accepting diversity. This will lead to a healthy environment in which to work, where everyone is welcomed and can feel safe, bringing with it many advantages from the point of view of work performance. 

Multiculturalism at school is about acknowledging and celebrating diversity of students' cultures. It should include, respect and support people that comes from different backgrounds. This environment will enrich the edcational experience talking about critical thinking, creativity, innovations, collaborations, cooperations, etc. 

It involves creating a learning environment that is inclusive and respectful of all cultural backgrounds and promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding.​

The way it can be done at school is through curriculum, student support, community engagementand faculty and staff. 

Sources

UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity; https://en.unesco.org/about-us/legal-affairs/unesco-universal-declaration-cultural-diversity#:~:text=As%20a%20source%20of%20exchange,of%20present%20and%20future%20generations.​

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/​

https://www.britannica.com/topic/multiculturalism​

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/multiculturalism#:~:text=Multiculturalism%20refers%20to%20(1)%20the,policy%20promoting%20such%20a%20society.​

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-multiculturalism-4689285​

https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/politics/political-ideology/multiculturalism/​

https://www.edglossary.org/multicultural-education/​

https://www.nameorg.org/definitions_of_multicultural_e.php​

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/multiculturalism/​