In a new workshop designed and implemented by GWIS, students learned how to better communicate between across different cultural divides. Our facilitator, Dr. Amer Ahmed, led the group through some activities/exercises as well as some more lecture-style teaching about intercultural communication and competency, with a mix of theoretical models and relatable examples. There was some healthy debate and open discussion among participants. The group was small, and it felt like a safe space to share personal experiences and ask questions. On feedback forms, participants reported feeling that the event was helpful and valuable, and that they enjoyed engaging with the other participants in the room.
This event was part of the “Welcoming the World to Amherst” program, a UMass Student Life initiative aimed at integrating domestic and international students on campus. The goals of the workshop were: (1) To strengthen graduate student comfort, awareness, and literacy with cross-cultural interaction in professional contexts, and (2) To provide a safe space for graduate students to practice cross-cultural communication with domestic and international peers and colleagues in an informal discussion setting. This workshop was a new event for GWIS and we were very excited to offer it for our members and the wider campus community. We hope you enjoyed the event!
