Cultural Competence in the Workplace : Triune Arts

Cultural Competence In The Workplace
An interactive multimedia online learning environment

Despite considerable publicity about the difficulty faced by immigrants finding jobs in their professions; institutions and businesses remain hesitant to hire New Canadians. While the reasons are complex, it is clear that one important factor is an insufficient comprehension of cultural factors and how they influence communication. Canadian educational materials dealing with cultural training for New-Canadians are sadly lacking.

“Cultural Competence in the Workplace” will be a multimedia web-based interactive learning environment and online community. It will be designed for employers, New Canadians, social service workers and agencies to guide them in understanding the cultural factors that influence effective communication in the Canadian workplace. Using a powerful combination of audio, full-motion video, text and colourful graphics, this essential resource will be informative, motivational, and entertaining.

The material to be explored will include such cultural dimensions as the importance of status, the influence of group ties on the individual, the degree of tolerance towards lack of structure, etc. Behaviours will be examined within the context of both the cultural dimensions outlined and particular social contexts, taking care to not pigeonhole particular cultures. The concepts will be presented in a practical manner and explored within various situations such as the job search and interview process, networking and small talk situations, teamwork and participation in meetings with co-workers, clients and customers.

“Cultural Competence in the Workplace” will offer comprehensive information and internet resources, as well as an online course that uses a mix of interactivity, rich media, group work and discussion. The target audience will be the general public, including New Canadians and also employers and social service workers who have registered as on-line fee-paying participants.

Triune Arts will provide creative direction, media production and project management . Triune's partner in the project, InterActive Arts, Inc, a leader in instructional design, web development and internet presence, will provide instructional design and web development expertise.

The following Project Advisory Committee will provide subject matter expertise:

Marni Johnson, Workplace Communication & Diversity Inc.
Amira Masud, Manager, English Language Training Programs, Sheridan Centre for Internationally Trained Individuals
Daisy Wright , Career Transition Coach
Mandi J. Luis, Job Finding Club Facilitator/Coach, Sheridan Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Kevin McLellan, Manager, hireimmigrants.ca, Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council.

The Project Advisory Committee will be chaired by Heather Chetwynd, director of Voice to Word Consulting Inc. which helps internationally-trained professionals refine their communication skills with a strong focus on cultural appropriateness.