Course - 2023 IDD-ICCF Middle Eastern Learning Lab & Community (Mini) Week
Brain Science & Intercultural Communication - Dr. Mai Nguyen
An introduction for all audiences
This introductory level-course will blend cognitive discussions about key concepts and frameworks from neuroscience with real-world cases and group discussions on intercultural communication.
Intercultural communication is often considered a “soft skill”; this course offers “hard science”-based evidence for making system-wide and (inter)personal changes for more effective communication. Whether you have a science background or not, you will take away new insights to use in your daily and strategic work and interactions.
The faculty member, Dr. Mai Nguyen, has advanced specialization in neuroscience in addition to intercultural communication in the workplace as well as classroom/campus/learning environments.
This course provides an introduction for all audiences (including those not familiar with the hard sciences) that will allow you to appreciate and begin to apply insights from the latest neuroscience to understand and better work with biases and change management.
Drawing from the emerging field of applied neuroscience, it provides fundamental, hands-on cutting edge knowledge and skill-building that helps you better understand how the brain works and how you can make it work for you—and help those you work with do the same.
Contact us at info@iddifferences.org if you have questions about the suitability of this course for your circumstances.
In this course, you will learn how to help yourself and those you work with so that you/they can better:
- Critically appreciate neuroscience myths and realities and how the former may be erroneously incorporated into mainstream practices in the workplace and otherwise.
- Articulate the fundamentals of neuroscience, including neuroplasticity, neurogenesis and epigenetics.
- Understand cultural neuroscience connections, i.e. those between culture, cultural values, and acculturalisation with genes and brain using an interdisciplinary approach that fosters the potential of a multicultural mind.
- Begin to apply insights from neuroscience to understand and work with cultural (and other) biases and change management.
This course will blend cognitive discussions about key concepts and frameworks with applied independent learning based on your real-world cases as well as group discussions. You will have an opportunity to consider how you might apply the knowledge and strategies gained in this course.
Contact us at info@iddifferences.org if you have questions about the suitability of this course for your circumstances.
This course is for you if you are — or are helping those who are —
- implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives within an organization;
- providing instruction, training, or on-the-job professional development to help colleagues better communicate and collaborate;
- working with those who appreciate “hard science”-based evidence for making system-wide and (inter)personal change.
Contact us at info@iddifferences.org if you have questions about the suitability of this course for your circumstances.
COURSE TYPES
Mixed cognitive-focused & hands-on course
DURATION/DATES
1 day/5 Oct 2023
TARGET LEVEL(S)
New or Experienced Trainers, Educators & All Professionals
TUITION FEE
US$575
includes certificate from IDD
Mai Nguyen, PhD
Until recently an associate professor at Amsterdam School of International Business, Dr. Mai Nguyen is currently based in Australia where she specialises in cross-cultural management with an emphasis on brain scence.
Mai is widely known for bridging intercultural communication and neuroscience in organizational settings, making these complex concepts accessible to practitioners in academic and corporate settings alike.
In addition to two textbooks that are currently used in universities worldwide, Intercultural Communication: When Neurons, Genes, and Evolution Joined the Discourse (Amsterdam University Press) and Cross-Cultural Management with Insights from Brain Science (Routledge), she is an active researcher and journalist.
This is the motto that inspires my work: “If you’re teaching today what you were teaching five years ago, either the field is dead or you are” – Noam Chomsky.
Neuroscience is often considered a topic beyond the reach of daily practitioners, many of whom may not have a background in the hard sciences.
While a general understanding of neuroscience is helpful, the core concepts we will address do not require a specialised understanding in this area.
She helps us recognize and understand what neuroscience is revealing about culture and communication. She helps us sort out what is of value, functional and can be recycled in our practice, shows us how to pack it up and take it with us, leaving behind what is no longer relevant and trashing what is useless.







CONSIDERATIONS
Neuroscience is often considered a topic beyond the reach of daily practitioners, many of whom may not have a background in the hard sciences. While a general understanding of ?human biology and physiology? is helpful, and we will touch on the anatomy and chemistry involved, the core concepts we will address do not require a specialized understanding in this area.
PREQUALIFICATIONS
While this course is open to all practitioners, it is strongly recommended that you have:
- x
- y
- z
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HOW TO REGISTER
To register on or after 6 June, simply email us at enroll@iddifferences.org for instructions.
NB: Official registration happens through the University of Groningen’s enrollment system. We will provide you with details for this.
ENROLL NOW
HOW TO REGISTER
If you are a member of Qatar’s Education City, please do not register through the IDD website. Instead, contact us at info@iddifferences.org and we’ll put you in touch with your local representative.
For all other participants, simply visit our registration page and complete your enrollment application online.