By Bethany McKay
The Monash Intercultural Lab aims to make intercultural competence a hallmark of Monash education.
The Monash Intercultural Lab (MIL) is part of the university’s intercultural competence strategy to ensure Monash staff and students have the skills to succeed in an increasingly globalised world.
Developed from the university’s strategic plan, Monash focus, the intercultural lab serves as mechanism to deliver a coordinated and aligned approach in the development of the intercultural competence.
Intercultural competence is the ability to function effectively across cultures, to think and act appropriately, and to communicate and work with people from different cultural backgrounds at home or abroad, according to the Monash Intercultural Lab.
Monash Intercultural Lab interim director Professor Rita Wilson will lead the project for the remainder of the year.
“We are trying to get everyone to develop a sense of adaptability and flexibility by being open to other people views,” Prof Wilson said.
“The Monash Intercultural Lab will help participants develop resilience to change, be able to face unexpected challenges and find solutions.”
Monash Intercultural Lab deputy director of external engagement, Dr Susan Carland, said to achieve an interculturally competent society, the lab needed to share the program and its knowledge with the wider community outside Monash staff and students.
“Universities have a sad reputation of being seen as ivory tower system, making them very insular,” said Dr Carland, who is the partner of The Project host Dr Waleed Aly.
“With the intercultural lab, Monash is committed to being outward facing by encouraging community engagement.”
“It is not just about what we can offer the outer community but what the outer community can offer us in collaboration to create cultural competence beyond the ivory tower and have it seep out into the rest of the community.”
The intercultural lab has begun developing different resources and programs to offer students and staff.
The programs will include academics units at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, co-curricular training for students, online toolkits, and Continuing Education Excellence Development (CEED) modules for staff and professional development.
Monash Intercultural Lab program officer Ludmilla Budnik said she was looking forward to her role in supporting the executive and Monash students.
“My role will be to help the executive team shape up their strategic directions and to support the student community,” Ms Budnik said.
“The lab is located on the seventh floor, but we are very open to feedback and ideas, and we are very open for collaboration.”