Use your current CIS Abroad Local Life experience coupled with this micro-credential’s curriculum to upscale your career core competencies, then learn how to positively position these skills into a better future of your own making.

The Cross-Cultural Agility micro-credential, offered uniquely through CIS Abroad, will help you enhance your critical thinking, cross-cultural communication, career & self development, and leadership skills while engaging in study abroad – adding global awareness, equity and inclusion to your international experience.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Students will apply their in-class knowledge to real-world, meaningful problem-solving situations where they learn to consider a variety of viewpoints.
• Students will develop strong cross-cultural communication skills and learn how to succeed in a global culture.
• Students will augment their ability to self-analyze and set clear, realistic goals.
• Students will augment their skillset and develop further knowledge and expertise in their desired career field.
• Students will develop greater cross-cultural leadership skills including independence, resiliency, and flexibility.

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 8 weeks abroad

Skills obtained

• Global Equity & Inclusion: Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures. Practice openness, inclusiveness, and ability to interact respectfully with diverse groups.
• Cross Cultural Communication: Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization taking into account cultural differences.
• Career & Self Development: Proactively develop oneself and one’s career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships within and without one’s organization. Develop plans and goals for one’s future career.
• Cross-Cultural Leadership: Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.

*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.

Document achievement

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

1. Successfully completing each section of the Cross-Cultural Agility Micro-Credential online curriculum in order during the allotted time. This includes recording and saving your reflection and goal-setting documents as instructed and actively engaging with and posting responses to the Challenges to Minerva online.

2. Actively participating in the onsite Local Life program and receiving a positive final evaluation from your onsite director.

3. Submitting your 30 second elevator pitch.

4. Submitting a video, blog, or similar creative deliverable which presents the outcomes/results of your study abroad experience.

Upon completion, students will receive the Cross-Cultural Agility Micro-Credential certification along with the Cross-Cultural Agility Micro-Credential Badge to post on social media. Students will also be equipped to clearly and concisely explain their certification in any interview, highlighting skills acquired, be it an interview for graduate school or employment.

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