Manual for Developing Intercultural Competencies

This book presents a structured yet flexible methodology for developing intercultural competence in a variety of contexts, both formal and informal. Piloted around the world by UNESCO, this methodology has proven to be effective in a range of different contexts and focused on a variety of different issues. It, therefore can be considered an important resource for anyone concerned with effectively managing the growing cultural diversity within our societies to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.

Intercultural competence refers to the skills, attitudes, and behaviours needed to improve interactions across difference, whether within a society (differences due to age, gender, religion, socio-economic status, political affiliation, ethnicity, and so on) or across borders. The book serves as a tool to develop those competences, presenting an innovative adaptation of what could be considered an ancient tradition of storytelling found in many cultures. Through engaging in the methodology, participants develop key elements of intercultural competence, including greater self-awareness, openness, respect, reflexivity, empathy, increased awareness of others, and in the end, greater cultural humility.

This book will be of great interest to intercultural trainers, policy makers, development practitioners, educators, community organizers, civil society leaders, university lecturers and students – all who are interested in developing intercultural competence as a means to understand and appreciate difference, develop relationships with those across difference, engage in intercultural dialogue, and bridge societal divides.

The Open Access version of this book, available at , has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

“"The Manual for Developing Intercultural Competencies: Story Circles shows how experiential learning in informal settings as story circles can be fundamental for a natural acquisition of intercultural competences - valorising the cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioural dimensions of the learning process. It demonstrates through clear methodological guidelines how to organise a story circle, and how the sharing of personal experiences brings participants to a level of parity, commonality, and understanding. Creating the basis for openness to the other."-- Miguel Silva, Global Education Programme Manager of the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe”

"The Manual for Developing Intercultural Competencies: Story Circles shows how experiential learning in informal settings as story circles can be fundamental for a natural acquisition of intercultural competences - valorising the cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioural dimensions of the learning process. It demonstrates through clear methodological guidelines how to organise a story circle, and how the sharing of personal experiences brings participants to a level of parity, commonality, and understanding. Creating the basis for openness to the other." — Miguel Silva, Global Education Programme Manager of the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe

Darla K. Deardorff is a research scholar at Duke University, author of 8 books and over 50 articles and book chapters, founder of ICC Global and the World Coucnil on Intercultural and Global Competence, affiliated faculty at numerous institutions around the world, and frequently invited speaker and consultant.

Intercultural competence refers to the skills, attitudes and behaviours needed to improve interactions across difference, whether within a society or across borders. This book presents a structured yet flexible methodology for developing intercultural competence in a variety of contexts, both formal and informal. Piloted around the world by UNESCO, this methodology has proven to be effective in a range of different contexts, and is an important resource for anyone concerned with effectively managing the growing cultural diversity within our societies to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.

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