None 

The student can: 

1.      describe the main concepts of intercultural communication, such as culture, stereotypes, ingroup/outgroup, values, norms etc. (LO2,3,5); 

2.      recognize, analyse and reflect on different standards and requirements for intercultural learning and studying (LO5,6,8); 

3.      acquire the intercultural skills and reflection tools to engage with students and Module coordinator from different cultures and contexts, such as giving and receiving feedback, asking open questions etc. (LO5,7,8); 

4.      use the basic tools for studying in the Dutch academic environment (e.g. formulate research topic, research question, find relevant literature, make correct references). 

Learning and studying in another culture is always challenging for students. This course offers basic tools and materials to be able to reflect on learning process and what it means to study in a Dutch university, culture and context, how to relate to students and professors from different contexts and to become aware of the technical and formal requirements for studying and doing research in a Dutch academic institution. 

·        Theoretical and practical instruction in intercultural learning and studying at the start of the MIRT programme 

·        Two meetings in period A on writing academic texts and doing empirical research (interviews) 

·        Weekly contributions to the MIRT blog (at Canvas) in study period A and B 

·        Writing a reflexive evaluation (max. 1000 words) of the learning process during the MIRT programme and the ‘take home’ results from the study year (before 31 July 2026) 

Contact hours: 12 hours 

Preparation for meetings: 6 hours 

Weekly Blogs: 4 hours 

Final reflection: 6 hours 

Lecture preparation 

Required readings from Martin, Judith N., and Thomas K. Nakayama. Intercultural Communication in Contexts. 5th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2010. 

Pass / Fail based on class participation and blog contributions. 

Recommended reading: 

1.      Intercultural Communication 

• Gudykunst, William B., Bridging Differences: Effective Intergroup Communication, 4th edition, Thousand Oaks (Calif: SAGE Publications, Inc, 2003). 

• Hofstede, Geert, Gert Jan Hofstede, and Michael Minkov, Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind, Third Edition (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010). 

• Lewis, Richard D., When Cultures Collide. Leading across Cultures: A Major New Edition of the Global Guide (Boston; London: Nicholas Brealey International, 2006). 

• Meyer, Erin. The Culture Map: Decoding How People Think, Lead, and Get Things Done Across Cultures. (New York: Public Affairs, 2016). 

2.      Dutch culture and context 

• Besamusca E., Verheul J., Discovering the Dutch –on Culture and Society of the Netherlands (Amsterdam, AUP, 2010) 

• Coates, Ben - Why the Dutch are Different. A Journey into the Hidden Heart of the Netherlands. (London; Boston, Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2015) 

• Vossestein, Jacob, Dealing with the Dutch (19th Revised edition, Amsterdam: KIT Publishers, 2010). 

3.      Learning and Researching in a Dutch university 

*   Turabian, Kate L., Wayne C. Booth, and Gregory G. Colomb. Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers. 9th ed. Chicago London: University of Chicago Press, 2018.