The Intercultural Leadership Seminar (ILS) is designed for international and U.S. students who want to learn how to be more effective in a global environment. ILS includes brief lectures, discussion, experiential activities, and small group work. While at ILS you will:
- Increase your awareness of the impact of culture on communication styles;
- Gain skills necessary for effective intercultural communication;
- Discover your own leadership potential; and
- Develop and enhance your intercultural competence.
ILS is part of the M-LEAD collaborative of leadership programs for students, and it is connected to M-Lead's Collective Impact Framework and competencies. Participating in ILS will help you to gain skills and knowledge of the following competencies: Adaptability, Authenticity, Building Relationships, Empathy, Feedback, Meaning-Making, Resilience, Self-Awareness, Vision.
Date and Time
You can attend as many sessions as you are interested in. Each session has a specific and different area of focus.
| Session | Area of Focus | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Intercultural competence | Friday, September 25 | 3pm - 4:15pm |
| II | Intercultural communication | Friday, October 16 | |
| III | Intercultural leadership | Friday, November 6 |
Expectations
- Have a computer and reliable internet connection.
- Be comfortable speaking and answering questions in front of a web camera.
- Turn on a web camera to participate in activities and discussions.
In order to encourage students to engage in candid and spontaneous discussions on potentially complex topics, we will not record sessions.
Certificate of Completion
We will issue a Certificate of Completion if all of the following criteria has met:
- Attend all three sessions
- Stay for the entire duration of each session
- Make a video (around one minute duration) to talk about what you have learned at ILS and how you plan to apply it in the future.
Applications
ILS opens to students at all academic levels. However, it is only available for students who are currently enrolled at the U-M Ann Arbor campus.
| Session Information | Application Deadlines |
|---|---|
| I: Intercultural competence Friday, September 25, 3pm-4:15pm |
Thursday, September 24 at 3pm Session I Application |
| II: Intercultural communication Friday, October 16, 3pm-4:15pm |
Thursday, October 15 at 3pm Session II Application |
| III: Intercultural leadership Friday, November 6, 3pm-4:15pm |
Thursday, November 5 at 3pm Session III Application |
We will email you the log-in details once the application deadline has been reached for each session.
Questions? Contact the International Center at icenter@umich.edu
Additional Quotes from the Former Participants:
"I really enjoyed interacting with other participants... It is rare to be in environment where people are open so quickly…I realized how often I stay in my comfort zone and how I must miss so many opportunities to interact with people and grow."
"I've been thinking a lot about my vision for life but was struggling to generate a statement and this was spot on. Thanks for this!"
"It provides us with an opportunity for introspection and actually works on aspects of our personality that we expect from others. The tips provided for the critical moment dialogue are very helpful and i personally believe that i could use them in several situations to great effect."
"I think this was obviously a very thoughtful seminar. Despite my familiarity and experience with the subject I still felt like it was valuable and provides me concentrated time to reflect within a useful framework. Thank you for your time offering this opportunity!"