Culturally Sensitive Communication in Administration – Basics for Dealing with International Students

As part of the DAAD-funded project IFMB2 (Internationale Fachkräfte für die Metropolregion Berlin-Brandenburg), the International Office cordially invites you to a workshop on culturally sensitive collaboration and cooperation for administrative staff

This workshop is aimed at administrative staff who are in regular contact with international students and would like to deepen their intercultural competences. Together we will reflect on "culture" and examine how different cultural perspectives on hierarchy, communication, relationship level and time can significantly influence cooperation and communication.

Participants will reflect on their own communication preferences in the context of their social and cultural background. In addition, a helpful tool is presented that makes it easier to deal with irritating intercultural situations. By sharing challenges and best practices, we will work together to develop solutions and conduct a peer case consultation.

The workshop also covers some of the basics of effective communication, offers practice-orientated exercises and sheds light on the topic of microaggressions. This workshop strengthens culturally sensitive and appreciative communication with international students.

Profile of the trainer

Helen Schliep, M. Sc., is co-director of the training company Working Between Cultures and an expert in intercultural communication and global cooperation.

She studied anthropology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, focusing on anthropological field research and conducting a comprehensive study of expat culture in Malaysia. This work sharpened her awareness of power structures and understanding of different perspectives. She went on to deepen her knowledge of structural discrimination through a Masters programme in International Development at the University of Edinburgh.

Helen has international work experience: she led an international work camp for the IJGD, worked at the Goethe-Institut and for a civil society organisation in Jordan. She completed her training as an intercultural trainer with InterCultur.

In her current role as co-director of Working Between Cultures, she runs training programmes for universities and the public sector. She specialises in intercultural cooperation, global diversity, unconscious bias, changing perspectives, communication and dealing with difficult conversations.