Over 200 administrative staff (HK) will take part in an internationalisation project during the autumn of 2010. <\/p>\n
Danish-speaking office staff at the university experience a number of hurdles when dealing with international staff and students, according to a focus group study conducted by CIP in April 2010.<\/p>\n
In order to communicate better with staff and students from abroad, they will now improve their English-language skills and take a course in intercultural understanding. <\/p>\n
Some difficulties are due to a lack of English language skills. <\/p>\n
Linguistic nuances are often lost in translation when both parties involved have limited English skills. <\/p>\n
This can lead to misunderstandings, according to focus group participants.<\/p>\n
Other problems arise from cultural differences. For example, workplace culture varies from country to country and this can lead to confusion in some cases.<\/p>\n
One member of the focus group gave an example of this: <\/p>\n
\u00bbSouthern Europeans sometimes ask about things that are usually in the category of \u2018things you would ask your Mum\u2019 \u2013 for example how long you cook pasta for or how to wash clothes.\u00ab<\/p>\n
Ingrid Kryhlmand, clerical officer at the University of Copenagen helped formulate the guidelines for the course. She retells the ‘go ask your mum’ anecdote as happening to a student from Madrid, who was rudely told this when asking a receptionist a question.<\/p>\n
\u00bbThe student from Madrid was used to being able to ask all questions, including, for example, how to cook pasta. While in Denmark staff are only used to responding to questions of a more professional nature,\u00ab she says.<\/p>\n
The course is about raising awareness about cultural differences and the potential conflicts that this entails, she explains. <\/p>\n
\u00bbThe course will introduce the staff to why and how internationals can react differently to the same message, depending on their cultural background\u00ab.<\/p>\n
The internationalisation project offers HK staff various different combinations of the following modules: <\/p>\n
– Basic English for administrative employees
\n– Nuanced English for administrative employees
\n– Service English and university terminology for administrative employees
\n– Intercultural meetings in everyday university life.<\/p>\n
luci@adm.ku.dk<\/p>\n