• adelaide

Introduction to Cultural Intelligence

Succeed in a culturally diverse context as you explore different cultural behaviours and develop your cultural intelligence.

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630 enrolled on this course

A diverse group of coworkers setting round a desk with a worker in the foreground
The CPD Certification Service

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies. Find out more.

Improve your cultural intelligence (CQ) with the University of Adelaide

Cultural intelligence (CQ) increases the chances of successful negotiations and can help prevent misinterpreting the behaviour of others who are culturally different.

On this four-week course, you’ll learn how to thrive in a culturally diverse context, whether this diversity comes from nationality, ethnicity, organisation, or generation.

You’ll learn to move past your own ‘cultural lens’ to develop your cultural intelligence and adapt to different culturally diverse situations, such as working with overseas clients.

Explore cultural tendencies with theories from Edward Hall and Geert Hofstede

To help increase your cultural intelligence, you’ll delve into the TRAFIC model, based largely on the theory of Edward Hall and Geert Hofstede.

With this tool, you’ll explore the cultural behavioural trends of the majority of people in world cultures and how to progress from low CQ to high CQ.

Unpack managed time vs flexible time

You’ll investigate different attitudes towards time and how managed or flexible time can highlight differences between people.

As you explore how trust can be established in different ways, you’ll delve into rules vs relationships as well as authority and hierarchy to help you predict behaviour in a work environment.

Explore individualism vs collectivism

You’ll learn the difference between individualism and collectivism and unpack how people may behave differently according to their individualist or collectivist values.

Finally, you’ll explore indirect vs direct communication style. With this knowledge, you’ll understand the workplace implications that can come from different communication styles.

By the end, you’ll be able to identify unconscious biases and workplace values and how you might positively influence behaviour in culturally diverse contexts.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 9 seconds We all work in culturally diverse environments. Have you ever misjudged the behaviour of others who are culturally different? My name is Antoinette Severino from the University of Adelaide and we designed this course Introduction to Cultural Intelligence to help you navigate these delicate nuances in the workplace. Culture has built-in values that are spoken and unspoken, seen and unseen. These are values that you’re expected to know. Ultimately, your success depends on cultural intelligence to not just survive, but to thrive. Cultural Intelligence leads to operational success. Enrol today in Introduction to Cultural Intelligence at the University of Adelaide.

What topics will you cover?

Introduction

  • Cultural intelligence (CQ), its four capabilities and example of progression from low CQ to high CQ.
  • The TRAFIC model: A tool illustrating a selection of six main cultural tendencies, i.e. cultural behavioural trends of the majority of people in world cultures (model largely based on the theories of Edward Hall and Geert Hofstede).

Time

  • Explain the difference between managed time and flexible time.
  • Describe your own opinion regarding managed time and flexible time.

Rules vs relationships

  • Explain how trust can be established in different ways.
  • Identify likely responses to different situations based on cultural preferences for rules vs relationships.

Authority

  • Describe the differences between a hierarchical and an egalitarian value system.
  • Predict behaviour in a work environment based on the two different values (hierarchy vs egalitarianism) illustrating the concept of authority.

Formality vs informality

  • Describe your own opinion regarding formality vs informality.
  • Discuss how people of various cultures are likely to view formality and informality.

Individualism vs collectivism

  • Explain how people may behave differently according to their individualist or collectivist values.
  • Summarise the characteristics of individualism and collectivism. Indirect vs direct communication.
  • Identify your own communication style as leaning towards direct or indirect.
  • Explain the possible workplace implications of different communication styles.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Reflect on unconscious biases and how they might impact interactions in culturally diverse contexts.
  • Apply effective verbal and non-verbal communication in culturally diverse contexts.
  • Identify your own (un)conscious biases and how they might impact your interactions in culturally diverse environments.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in developing their cultural intelligence.

It will be particularly of interest if your organisation requires cultural intelligence awareness training or you work with overseas clients.

Who will you learn with?

I am the Cultural Intelligence Programs Coordinator at the University of Adelaide and run an extra-curricular, intercultural program for our students using Cultural Intelligence as core concept.

Simon Futo is the General Manager for the University of Adelaide’s English Language Centre (ELC) and has over 25 years experience of working in the ELICOS sector.

Ashleigh Mercury is a certified trainer in Cultural Intelligence and is the International Partnerships Coordinator for the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology at the University of Adelaide

Who developed the course?

The University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide is a world-class teaching and research institution. They are committed to developing quality students and lifelong learners who are recognised for their skills, creativity, global outlook and ability to succeed.

  • World ranking

    Top 110Source: QS World University Rankings 2023

What's included?

This is a premium course. These courses are designed for professionals from specific industries looking to learn with a smaller group of like-minded individuals.

  • Unlimited access to this course
  • Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
  • Tests to validate your learning
  • Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you're eligible
  • Download and print your Certificate of Achievement anytime

Still want to know more? Check out our FAQs

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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