The complex mosaic of languages and cultures that constitutes today’s workplace is forcing employers to fundamentally rethink their recruitment policies. While relevant experience and technical know-how remain key attributes to look for in applicants, they are increasingly focused on employees capable of bringing a full set of cross-cultural skills.
As the modern world of work becomes more and more globalized and competitive, ESCP Business School rises to the challenge by providing its graduates with the means to break down any cultural barrier in communicating with colleagues, business partners and clients. However, the aim is not only to impress future employers with a perfect international curriculum, but also to prepare young professionals to better understand their colleagues, to adapt smoothly to new working environments and to prevent culture shock. While strengthening their cultural awareness.
The Bachelor in Management (BSc) de ESCP is a perfect example of an intercultural oriented program. It offers the opportunity to study for three years in three different countries with students from all over the world and brings intercultural skills to the classroom through a dedicated module.
Intercultural skills module.
A constructive bridge between cultures begins with education
“Our Bachelor of Science offers solid quantitative preparation. Nevertheless, we offer several “humanistic” contents in the curriculum, because we believe that they are necessary for future managers to approach the complexity of the business world in a global way ”, tell us Chiara Succi, associate professor of organizational behavior at ESCP, and academic director of the Bachelor in Management (BSc) for the Turin campus. “All courses have an international perspective and see diversity as an asset at different levels. It is for this purpose that we offer, in the second year, the module entitled ‘Intercultural skills’ ”.
Although the module “Intercultural Skills” is expressly designed to prepare students for a fruitful encounter of cultures – in the workplace and beyond – how does this happen in practice?
“The course is divided into two parts,” explains Professor Succi. “In the first part, the students become familiar with definitions of the main concepts (ie culture, identity, multicultural, pluricultural, …) and study the cultural dimensions to better understand and compare the different countries and the different approaches to business in the world ”.
In the second part of the course, entitled ‘culture in action’, the students are invited to apply the frameworks studied to real cases and to adapt them in different contexts. “For example, we have a role-playing game called ‘Culture shock’, in which students have to simulate a possible cultural conflict and suggest alternative tactics to avoid it ”, explains Professor Succi.
Bachelor in Management (BSc).
A study program designed for students aspiring to high-level international careers
One of the fundamental objectives of the bachelor’s program is to develop a ‘humanistic’ sensitivity to complement technical studies. The program underlines in particular the immense diversity that currently characterizes the corporate world. A diversity which, with its many faces and variations, is reflected in a variety of cultures, personalities, generations and needs.
Companies, now more than ever, are no longer only interested in the ability of employees to speak another language, but in their ability to show respect to others, at understand people of different origins, establish a bond of trust and to dealing with cultural differences.
“It is fundamental for our students to understand that cultural diversity is not linked to a specific country or society, but that it belongs to each individual. In each ‘interpersonal encounter’, they will have to invest temps and energy to establish a positive link “, continues Professor Succi.
Intercultural communication.
Understanding others means interpreting the reality around us
Being able to listen to and understand others is essential to recognize the environment in which cultural encounters take place. “We ask our students to keep a diary to reflect on themselves and analyze in depth their group work activities. For example, we asked them to find in their city a cultural event or phenomenon (for example, the Brazilian carnival, the coffee, the visit of a synagogue, a meal in a Chinese restaurant, …) on which to work, by applying the cultural dimensions studied in the first part of the course “, Professor Succi tells us.
Each year, students’ reaction to the module is different, as their perception is influenced by current events and events unfolding around them. ” The nationalism, the racism and the stereotypes were extremely interesting for the students last year ”, says Professor Succi, pointing out that the ‘Intercultural Skills’ module is constantly changing, like the world it tries to interpret.
Although we understand that building constructive bridges between cultures is fundamental to transforming our societies and economies, what is the reaction of the students to this module?“In general, our students really appreciate the opportunity to reflect on their international experience at ESCP and to assess, in a way, their level of ‘cultural intelligence’. We are, however, proud to train future leaders capable of putting people at the center of their choices ”, concludes Professor Succi.
Globalization has an impact on all career paths in all sectors. The acquisition of intercultural executives is essential to simplify the complexity of the business environment, to develop transversal communication strategies, to build trust and fruitful relationships.
Learn more about the Bachelor in Management (BSc) and discover the path to your intercultural journey at ESCP Business School.
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