Newsletter

OCENET professional development focuses on cultural competency

 OCENET’s Geoff Best with IDI workshop facilitator Hamelin Grange

 OCENET staff in group discussion at the IDI Professional Development workshop

Intercultural Competence:
“The individual and organizational ability to have and utilize policies, appropriately trained and skilled employees and specialized resources, to systematically anticipate, recognize and respond to the varying expectations of clients, volunteers, and co-workers of diverse backgrounds.”
- Hamelin Grange, DiversiPro

On January 17 all OCENET staff participated in a professional development workshop on the topic of intercultural competence. As an organization that works with students, parents, and organizations from many other cultures, it is important that each member of the OCENET staff be aware of his or her own orientation towards cultural differences and works towards developing intercultural competence.

The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) is a unique method in assessing an individual’s primary orientation towards intercultural differences and involves completing a questionnaire of 50 questions including some anecdotal responses. Based on the results, an individual profile can be determined using empirically valid and reliable methods. This profile identifies where the individual’s orientation lies along an intercultural development continuum. In addition, each respondent is provided with a personal plan to develop intercultural competence.

The IDI assessment is a powerful tool for assisting staff to respond to diversity and to enhance intercultural competence throughout a school or workplace.