Intercultural Communication Institute
History
Founded in 2005, the UF ICI believes that effective intercultural communication is the foundation for creating positive, long-term relationships across cultures, both in our community and across the world.
The UF ICI encourages and supports the development of excellence in intercultural communication through education, research, professional development and outreach.
We recognize the importance of developing intercultural communication skills for students, teachers, business professionals and the community to enable productive, respectful and beneficial interactions across cultures in an interconnected world.
Our institute provides services for people who need knowledge and experience in effective communication with people whose languages, customs, beliefs, and communication styles vary from theirs. Please call if we can help your organization, business, educational or civic group.
Mission
The mission of the UF ICI is to bring together the resources of the university to promote research, education and training in ways to better understand and bridge the cultural differences that both enrich and challenge us.
Research shows that immigration and resettlement has increased the diversity of our American population. Similarly, globalization and internationalization of the business market means increased contact with people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds in the international workplace.
UF ICI provides services for businesspersons, educators, civic leaders, and others who need knowledge and experience in effective communication with people whose languages, customs, beliefs, and communication styles vary greatly from theirs.
Vision
The vision of the UF ICI is to be recognized as a leading resource center for intercultural communication education, research, professional development and outreach.
The UF ICI seeks to expand contacts with international faculty, students, and members of the business, education, and civic community.
The UF ICI organizes seminar and symposia to discuss new methods, perspectives and approaches to bridging obstacles to intercultural understanding.
Central to the mission of promoting intercultural communication, the UF ICI hosts performances of groups devoted to preserving their cultural heritage.
New Projects
"Campus-wide Intercultural Communication Education and Training Needs Assessment." In the spring of 2008, the UF ICI, in partnership with affiliated faculty and staff, applied for and received funding from the Provost's office for Faculty Development for their project that will allow them to assess the campus need for intercultural communication education.
The project will be conducted in three parts:
- Part I - To collaboratively study and investigate the large question of what are the major intercultural communication issues on the UF campus.
- Part II- Builds on the research findings in a report conducted by a group of the UF faculty and staff led by Ken Rice and Chun Chung Choi and involves specific training for faculty who advise international students, especially Asian students.
- Part III - To publicize the findings, develop strategies, and implement one or more of them in the Spring, 2009.
Dr. Michael Leslie is the projects' Principal Investigator and Dr. Chun-Chung Choi is the Co-Principal Investigator.
Recent Projects
- UF Housing workshop on intercultural communication with foreign students and resident advisors.
- Roundtable for the UF Counseling Center on intercultural factors in mental health services.
- Visiting Scholar Dr. Zainal Ahmad from Malaysia to discuss study abroad, faculty exchange, and collaborative teaching and research centers.
- Business consultation for an American company making presentations to trade and industry shows in Thailand and Japan.