2017 YIR issuu

10
INTERCULTURAL STUDENT
AMBASSADOR CERTIFICATE
The Intercultural Student Ambassador Certificate program develops cross-cultural competency skills in students
who immediately apply them as peer educators by leading workshops or discussion activities for small groups.
Students can obtain the ISA certificate by attending at least 10 hours of GTI intercultural training, leading their
own cultural training or workshop for others with feedback provided by GTI staff, and demonstrating increased
cultural competence by successfully completing a certification assessment.
GTI Programs Coordinator Melissa Edwards Smith piloted the program with a group of 10 Caldwell Fellows who
were selected to participate in an immersive study program in Guanajuato, Mexico. Edwards Smith has been
working with the Caldwell’s Mexico program for the last three years and knew this was a great next step for them.
“The Caldwell Fellows Program is a natural fit for this certificate program since their mission is to develop the
next generation of self-aware, globally-minded leaders,” Edwards Smith said. “We were able to set the stage for
the Mexico program with a pre-departure orientation that provided a mixture of in-class sessions and local site
visits to understand the realities of our local immigrant populations. Students were exposed to key concepts of
cultural theories as well as skills that would help them understand and navigate a new culture more successfully.”
The Caldwell Fellows spent 2.5 weeks in Mexico in July where they were able to put theory into practice and
develop their personal leadership skills and cultural competence. During the fall semester, the GTI’s certificate
program included additional training that allowed students to reflect and apply the lessons they learned while
also developing the skills needed to facilitate cultural learning and understanding for other students.
Layne Baker is one of the first ISA
certificate recipients.