Cultural Diversity:
Leadership Needed
Cultural diversity is not a new
phenomenon, yet in our increasingly mobile and global world it has taken on
greater, even urgent, importance. As people of different ethnicities and from
different social, religious, political, economic, linguistic, and educational
traditions come together in the workplace, schools, and in the neighborhoods
where we live, the potential for misunderstanding and conflict grows,
creating barriers to productivity and progress. Cultural diversity is a fact
of life and a phenomenon that will only become more complex in the future.
Formerly, Americans had to travel abroad to experience first-hand the world’s
cultural variety. Now this is no longer necessary because the world has
increasingly come to America. Daily life in all cities and many rural areas
now includes the possibility of encountering cultural diversity to a degree
unprecedented in our history.
Recognizing the challenges and opportunities posed by increasing cultural
diversity, business, government, educational institutions at all levels, and
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are turning to specialists who can help
identify needs, develop effective programs, and provide leadership for
constructively managing change. Such cultural diversity leaders, experts in
intercultural relations, generally work as consultants to organizations.
Cultural diversity specialists are now common on college campuses, corporate
human resources (HR) departments, health care organizations, international
marketing and advertising firms, and in dozens of other professional venues.
The demand for people who understand how to communicate and work with
multicultural groups, especially in actual and “virtual” work teams, is
destined to increase exponentially in the next decade.
Understanding cultural diversity can come from many directions, including
gaining direct knowledge through working and living overseas, or from
exposure to domestic diversity. However, developing leadership skills in the
field of intercultural relations requires much more than experiential contact
alone. This process can be greatly enhanced by focused academic work that
combines intercultural theory with an emphasis on practical applications.
Most employers advise that a master’s degree is a minimum requirement for
obtaining specialist positions in areas such as cultural diversity, coaching,
managing multicultural global workforces, coordinating “virtual” teams,
compliance audits, multicultural education, human relations, international
educational exchange, cross-cultural training, and similar career options.
The Master of Arts in Intercultural Relations (MAIR) program offered through
the University of the Pacific’s School of International Studies and our
partner, the Intercultural Communication Institute (ICI) in Portland, Oregon,
is a limited-residency program designed to provide the kind of education
necessary to be successful when working with cultural diversity. The program
consists of three two-week residencies (every six months), and was designed
with the needs of the adult, mid-career learner in mind.
For information about the Masters of Arts Degree in Intercultural Relations
at the School of International Studies, University of the Pacific, contact
Katrina Jaggears by email or by calling
(209) 946-2836. |
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