CROSS CULTURAL AGILITY

Micro-credential

Once you’ve earned a micro-credential, share it widely across various social media platforms (think adding it to your LinkedIn profile), with your contacts, and the greater community – thus enhancing your professional profile. You can also list it on your resume, refer to it in your cover letters, and use it as a talking point during interviews to introduce the skills you have developed.

ABOUT THE CROSS CULTURAL AGILITY MICRO-CREDENTIAL

Engage in a multi-dimensional global learning experience designed to provide you with a greater understanding of diverse global perspectives as well as the intercultural competencies that employers and graduate schools look for! The Cross-Cultural Agility micro-credential, offered through CIS Abroad, will guide you to develop critical thinking, leadership, and cross-cultural skills while engaging in hands-on cultural activities abroad.

Gain critical global experience that enhances skills and increases your understanding of how your actions can impact both your local and global communities. By integrating daily life in your new host culture with opportunities to reflect on and question what you are experiencing, you will apply in-class learning to real-world situations and deepen your understanding of what it means to be interculturally curious in an interdependent world – in alignment with your personal and professional goals.

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will:
- Develop a greater understanding and appreciation of their own culture(s) and hone the ability to bridge their home and host culture perspectives.
- Demonstrate an appreciation of, and open-mindedness toward, other cultures and display an understanding of values, beliefs, traditions, and perspectives different from their own
- Exhibit an awareness of, and sensitivity toward, the issues that confront the local community. (G/IF, E & I)
Students will demonstrate the ability to think critically, solve complex problems, adapt, and cope effectively with ambiguous and unfamiliar situations. (CT, L)
Students will explore their career goals, augment their experience, and develop and/or strengthen their career readiness competencies. (CM)

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

CIS Abroad students enrolled in a semester-long, credit-bearing study abroad program.

INSTRUCTION METHOD

Hybrid (combines a minimum of four facilitated, on-site cultural experiences with online modules and independent engagement with the local culture)

TIME TO COMPLETION

Minimum of 12 weeks abroad

SKILLS OBTAINED

Career Management (CM): Identify and articulate one’s skills, strengths, knowledge, and experiences relevant to career goals and identify areas necessary for professional growth and competency development. The individual is able to examine and explore career options and can take the steps necessary to pursue opportunities.
Critical Thinking (CT): Exercise sound reasoning to analyze issues, make decisions, and overcome problems. The individual is able to obtain, interpret, and use knowledge, facts, and data in this process, and may demonstrate originality and inventiveness.
Global/Intercultural Fluency, Equity & Inclusion (IF, E & I): Demonstrates the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably and respectfully engage with and include people from different local and global cultures. Interprets intercultural experiences from the perspective of various worldviews and demonstrates the ability to act in a manner that recognizes the feelings of another cultural group.
Leadership (L): Actively seeks out new, challenging experiences and is able to cope effectively with ambiguity. The individual is able to assess and manage her/his emotions and those of others; use empathetic skills effectively; and approach life with a high degree of adaptability, independence, and self-confidence.

*Categories based on the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) key competencies and informed by the Association of American Colleges and Universities VALUE rubrics, described in detail below.

DOCUMENTING ACHIEVEMENT

The specific requirements that must be met in order to earn this micro-credential include:

Successfully completing all modules within the online Local Life cultural program.
Active participation in the Local Life designated, on-site cultural experiences/activities and receiving a positive site director endorsement.
Actively engaging in the live Local Life reflection sessions with the site director; completion of the initial Local Life Goals and Reflecting on my Study Abroad Goals worksheets.
Submitting a quality (B or better) final, summative reflection paper as well as a short video, blog, presentation, or similar creative deliverable which presents the outcomes of your study abroad experience.

Citations:

American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). (2009). Global Learning VALUE rubric. Retrieved from https://www.aacu.org/value/rubrics/global

National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). (2021). Career Readiness Competencies. Retrieved from: https://www.naceweb.org/career-readiness/competencies/career-readiness-defined/