Report on Workshop on Diversity and Cross-Cultural Competence at Workplace

Shrishti Rathour
29th September 2016

The Department of Arts (Philosophy), School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Law, conducted a workshop on Diversity and Cross-Cultural Competence. It was attended by a decent number of BJMC students and Diversity Group members.

Dr. Anthony addressing the members of the audience

The workshop was based on a lecture by Dr. Vidu Soni who is a professor of human resource management and leadership at TAPMI School of Business, Manipal University Jaipur. The event began with a talk by Dr. Anthony Savari Raj, Head of Department of Arts, who lucidly introduced the theme, direction and purpose of the workshop. Later, the chief resource person Dr. Vidu Soni spoke about her research, which has been conducted over a period of 25 years, on diversity in people living in different regions. She explained that people belonging to different countries, cultures and castes naturally have distinct beliefs and ideologies. Basically, the upbringing of humans varies from place to place which is pretty easily visible in their behavior and thought process.

Dr. Vidu Soni interacting with students

In order to make the concept of cross cultural competence distinct in the minds of young aspirants, Dr. Vidu Soni elaborated on terms such as stereotypes, prejudice, and ethnocentrism.
An impromptu activity was also initiated by the esteemed lecturer in which students were asked to describe themselves in various ways to observe the identity of one person respective to multiple aspects. The cross cultural variations were discussed in detail giving special reference to Indian mindset contrasting it with that of western continents. The problems faced by a migrant were also extrapolated using pictorial representation. Ultimately, the event came to an end after a few students as well as faculty members shared their opinions on the subject.

WORKSHOP ON DIVERSITY AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMPETENCE

A WORKSHOP on “DIVERSITY AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMPETENCE”
29 Sept 2016 (11am – 1 pm)


1. The New Initiative:


The Department of Arts (Philosophy), School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Manipal University Jaipur, is launching a new initiative on developing diversity awareness and cross-cultural competencies. Toward this objective, the Deparment of Arts (Philosophy), SHSS, is planning a National Conference and a series of workshops. The first in this series is planned on Sep. 29 and is described below.


Understanding and appreciating how diversity and multi-cultural dynamics in the contemporary workplaces and societies has become an important skill area for professionals in all fields, such as management, psychology, journalism, law, and medicine to be successful in today’s global world. The organizations and communities are becoming increasingly boundaryless, thus, a global mindset and cross-cultural competencies have become crucial for professional development in all areas.


Diversity awareness also has a normative aspect requiring institutions of various kinds to create inclusiveness of processes, accessibility of opportunities, and valuing of differences among people of all segments of society and cultures. Higher education institutions have an important role to play in facilitating diversity and cross-cultural awareness among both educators and students through exposure, training, and dialogue.


Developed countries such as United States, Canada, Germany, England, and Australia have been engaging in diversity and cross-cultural competency-building efforts for the last two decades. It is now considered to be part of required workplace skill and an important human resource management strategy in work organizations. Diversity competence is also considered to be an important tool for solving social problems, resolving inter-ethnic conflicts, facilitating a dialogue among people who see themselves a world apart.






2. Purpose and Expected Outcome of the Programme:


As a part of the new initiative indicated above, the Dept of Arts (Philosophy) is proposing to organize a two-hour workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to introduce the participants to the concept of diversity and cross-cultural competence and how it has become an important part of 21st century professional skills-set for career success and personal effectiveness. The goal is to introduce the concept of diversity and cross-cultural competence, and exploration of skills required to work effectively with people from different cultures and other types of socio-economic differences.

Developing sensitivity to the perspectives of people of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, understanding their issues and concerns, building skills among professionals to deal with diversity and multi-culturalism, and creating synergies based on differences are some of the objectives of the workshop.


Learning Outcomes:


* Participants will develop an awareness of the concept of diversity and multiculturalism and how it effects their work and personal lives
* Participants will learn about important concepts of cultural competence such as, the role of culture in shaping behavior, stereotyping, ethnocentrism and how to overcome them
* Participants will become familiar with approaches to inter-cultural communication and develop strategies to improve their own cross-cultural communication
* Participants will be able to put the concept of diversity and cultural competence in the context of their own chosen profession and recognize its value
* Participants will be able to diagnose a situation and respond appropriately in a situation where people with cultural difference are interacting, working, and living in same neighbourhoods


3. The Resource Person:

The resource person for the workshop is PROF. DR. VIDU SONI. Dr. Vidu Soni is a professor of human resource management and leadership at the TAPMI Business School, Manipal University Jaipur. She earned her MPA and PHD degrees from Northern Illinois University, USA. Dr. Soni has over 25 years of experience in teaching in the public and business administration programs United States and India. In addition, she has served as director of human resources and HRM consultant including conducting diversity training in the United States.

Dr. Soni’s doctoral dissertation was on managing workplace diversity and multi-culturalism. She has also published articles on diversity management in top journals in the field. Dr. Soni has over 75 conference presentations, including keynote addresses, and has held many leadership roles in public administration associations, including President of Michigan Political Science Association. She is a Life-Member of IIPA and ISTD.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ON TEACHER'S DAY

-Akash Dayal
President,SOPHIA Club

Manipal Greetings!!

As the whole nation celebrates teachers day we would like to thank and wish all a very happy teachers day. In our 5000 year old civilisation it is the Gurus who made us survive the tough times and guided the Nation ahead towards a beautiful golden future and continue to do so. Teachers Day celebrated on 5th of September every year is also a day to celebrate pioneer of Indian Philosophy Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who is immortal for his contribution in our present and not only for academia in the field of Philosophy but also for the bright light he showed to our Nation in a time where our motherland was again in a incubation period after a long foreign rule. We hope and pray to God that he further keeps on blessing us with such great Gurus, as Prof Uma Charan Jha, a pioneer in Buddhist Philosophy once said that "There is a lining which differentiates Gurus from Teachers, you have many teachers but a few Gurus". Celebrating the ethos of student-teacher relationship let us remember all our teachers from those who wiped our tears on first day of our school to those who helped us in understanding the various basic fundamentals of some really complex subjects and made them simple for us. Almighty blessed us with teachers right from our birth as mother and gave us a wonderful life which itself is a teacher. Concluding I would like to quote Chanakya who said "A Guru is one who awakens National character of Unity in his students". Wish all a very happy teachers day.