Intercultural Development Program
Regardless of what you study or where you are located, you will inevitably live and work with diverse people. Through hands-on workshops and practical involvement, UBCO’s Intercultural Development Program (IDP) will help you build your cross-cultural skills and intercultural fluency to better understand the intersections of culture with power, politics, identity, media, art, and other social structures.
Overview
The Intercultural Development Program (IDP) includes workshops, social involvement, community-building, and volunteering activities facilitated by experienced staff and student coordinators. This program assists in developing skills to communicate in culturally diverse communities in Canada and abroad.
Once students complete the program, they receive a letter of completion to include on their resume.
REGISTER FOR THE INTERCULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Program outcomes
Through participating in the Intercultural Development Program, participants will:
- identify and explore their own identities and struggles and strengths
- gain the intercultural communication skills necessary to be successful in their academic and professional careers
- expand their understanding of social and cultural differences;
- enhance cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills as a means to create more meaningful interactions in the school and workplace
- develop a realistic assessment of their biases and the impact of their own culture on value, assumptions, perceptions, expectations, and behavior;
- increase their understanding and knowledge of historically, persistently, and systemically marginalized groups
- increase their understanding and knowledge of historically, persistently, and systemically marginalized groups
- understand the diverse and contextual nature of culture through empathetic listening and critical thinking
- connect and network with professors, community organizations, and subject-matter experts;
- receive a letter of completion and an opportunity to improve their resume with new intercultural skills and references.
Eligibility
The Intercultural Development Program is open to all graduate and undergraduate students at UBC’s Okanagan campus who are enrolled in the Winter session, including Canadian students, International students, and students going on exchange.
Format
There are three components to the program:
Component one: Workshops
Attend and participate in three IDP workshops.
These are formal discussion spaces for facilitators and participants to exchange ideas with one another. However, we aim to create a safe and inviting environment for reciprocal learning.
Previous Workshops
SOCCER AND IDENTITY
Playing soccer might sound like a physical activity independent from societal issues. However, in reality these affect who plays, which players assume leadership roles, who earns the most, among others. A chat and friendly soccer matches to think about how identity markers (e.g. race and gender) influence the way soccer is accessed and experienced.
CULTURE IS NOT A COSTUME
Are you aware of the difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation? A discussion on the definitions of related terms and an open floor for varying viewpoints.
WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD
Women around the world face a variety of similar and different challenges. In their work, family and social life women continue to experience unique obstacles and demonstrating incredible resilience. This gender inequality is present internationally and impacts every single individual intersectionality.
HOW IS GLOBALIZATION AFFECTING OUR CULTURES?
Are we moving towards a global culture? Or are our cultures adapting to today’s global context? A discussion on ‘Glocalization,’ a concept that sheds light on these questions in particular.
Component two: Complete a practical experience
Attend and engage in one IDP-organized social event.
The IDP is an opportunity to connect with other students who are interested in advocating for social change and working towards an intercultural campus community. Our social events hold informal spaces for students interested in the program to engage with each other and share their perspectives.
- Attend an intercultural networking event (TBA) OR an Intercultural Career Development Program (ICDP) workshop/event
- IDP TAKE OVER – Gain facilitation experience by presenting on an intercultural topic
PREVIOUS SOCIALS
INTERCULTURAL BRUNCH
Meet the IDP community and learn more about the program.
TRIVIA NIGHT
Gather at the Global Collegium for food and refreshments. Hangout with your friends, fellow students, the GEO ambassadors, and IDP facilitators.
FIELD DAY
Join the IDP team to de-stress playing spike ball, soccer, and frisbee.
Component three: Community Building & Volunteering
Expand and put into practice your intercultural lens by engaging with community partners on and off campus. By engaging with community members, you will solidify and continue developing the intercultural skills learned during workshops and other events.
After attending two community-based events of your choice, write a 1-paragraph reflection for each of your learning experiences. Send your reflection to ubco.global@ubc.ca or anniafer@mail.ubc.ca with the subject line “IDP reflection – student number”
Potential Collaborations
ATTEND A STUDENT CLUB CULTURAL EVENT
Join one of the cultural celebrations organized by student clubs sponsored by the Students’ Union.
INTERCULTURAL NETWORKING
Engage with career and networking events (e.g., Global Education Week, EMERGE, Career Development Week for International Students, Roots & Relationships, Harmony, Black History Month, etc.)
VOLUNTEERING
Contact the Community Service Learning team for volunteering opportunities.
IDP TAKEOVER
Create and present a workshop on a topic of your preference (related to intersections of culture with power, politics, identity, media, art, and other social structures) in collaboration with an IDP facilitator. Contact us at anniafer@mail.ubc.ca
Meet the IDP FAcilitators
Annia Ferradas
I am a third-year student, working towards my Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. I am originally from Peru, but I have been lucky enough to travel through volunteering programs and conferences. Therefore, I have been able to appreciate cultural diversity within Latin America and other countries that are vastly different from mine. Hence, I led the Latin American Student Organization at UBC Okanagan to better represent our cultures. I also enjoy engaging with prospective students through my work as a Student Ambassador. I am passionate about politics, cultural identity and working towards providing equal access to resources and opportunities to others. I look forward to seeing how the Intercultural Development Program can inspire discussion and learning about current world topics!
Vera Rosenblueth
I am a second-year Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) student deeply interested in issues of social justice and equity. I enjoy volunteering and find it is a way for me to advocate for issues I care about. For instance, I communicate the relevance and create awareness about food insecurity through my volunteer work at Pantry. Additionally, as an international student coming from Mexico, understanding the interplay of different cultures and appreciating diversity plays an important role in both my personal and professional life. I also enjoy traveling and spending long periods in new places which allow me to immerse myself in different cultural environments. As such, the Intercultural Development Program is something I am truly passionate about and overall excited to be a part of. I believe that by being informed and understanding how cultural, social, and political phenomena shape our lives, and the world at large, we can have a lasting positive impact. I am enthusiastic about being able to facilitate a safe and constructive space in which these and so many more topics can be tackled.
Contact
If you have questions about IDP, contact us at ubco.global@ubc.ca or by visiting UNC 227.
