Course on Intercultural Communication and Cultural Diplomacy 2024 (CICAD)
The Centre for Languages and Cultural Diplomacy successfully organised a two-day Course on Intercultural Communication and Cultural Diplomacy 2024 from 16 to 17 July 2024. The course received encouraging responses from officers from various ministries and agencies, namely, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Higher Education, Prime Minister's Department, National Landscape Department, Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation, Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, Department of the Premier of Sarawak, Institute of Broadcasting and Information Tun Abdul Razak, and Malaysia-China Youth Council. This year, thirty-two participants attended the course, an increase from twenty-five in 2023.
Throughout the two-day course, participants were fully immersed in discussions to enhance their understanding of cultural diplomacy and cultural intelligence. Key topics covered included Madani Values in Malaysian Multicultural Society, Cultural Diplomacy, Cross-Cultural and Intercultural Communication, Mediation and Use of Language in Culturally Sensitive Conflicts, Cultural Diplomacy in the ASEAN Arena and Cultural Intelligence. The course also featured hands-on training with simulated mediation sessions, equipping participants with the skills, techniques, and tools needed to navigate and thrive in multicultural environments.
In addition to the main sessions, the participants of the course also had the opportunity to benefit from two lunch talk sessions. The first session delved into the effects of culture on bilateral and multilateral relations and the second session focused on dealing with cross-cultural differences providing insights for effectively managing and bridging gaps in cultural understanding. These sessions further enriched the participants' learning experience, offering them a space to discuss and exchange ideas on these crucial topics.
The course was officially closed with a certificate presentation ceremony by Dato’ Syed Bakri Syed Abdul Rahman, the Director General of IDFR. Participants left the course empowered with new skills and perspectives, ready to confidently navigate cultural complexities.
