Award-winning research drives cultural connections
CQUniversity is growing capacity to support culturally diverse learning styles, with new training based on groundbreaking research with international students.
Engaging with International Students: Key Strategies for Effective Cross-cultural Interactions is a new online course, recommended for CQU academic staff via their internal online learning portal.
The course was developed as part of CQU’s Retention Equity Program, and will help educators and staff support diverse learning styles, and understand how international students adjust culturally in their first term of learning.
The content is based on research published by a multi-disciplinary team, which won the Award for Best Practice in International Education at the Australian peak body's annual Excellence Awards in 2022.
CQUniversity is home to nearly 4,000 international students, and the course creators have drawn insights from their diverse experience teaching students from across the globe.
Associate Professors Anthony Weber, Ritesh Chugh, Stephanie Macht, and Dr Monika Kansal developed the new training program to address critical cultural aspects influencing international students' learning experiences.
A/ Prof Weber said the free training was opt-in for CQUniversity staff, and highlighted a range of factors that could affect learning for international students.
“We know there are many cross-cultural challenges faced by international students in Australia, and this course highlights the importance of recognising and appreciating diverse cultural backgrounds,” he said.
“Participants learn practical strategies for managing interactions with international students, and a range of opportunities for encouraging engagement and connection, and creating inclusive and supportive learning environments.”
The 30-minute training is available via CQUniversity’s EMPower staff e-learning portal.
The award-winning research Alleviating Cross-cultural Challenges of Indian Subcontinent Students: University Staff Perspectives was published in 2022.
The innovative project highlighted gaps in academics' cross-cultural understanding of the growing cohort of international students from the Indian subcontinental, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and India.
