Intercultural Communication for Global Business

In today’s interconnected yet fragmented world, effective communication across cultures is an increasingly vital skill. As businesses navigate the complexities of globalisation and the profound shifts brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, the ability to connect, collaborate and navigate international interactions with sensitivity and foster effective cross-cultural communication and collaboration is essential.

This eight-week online course equips professionals with the practical tools and strategies to thrive in a world defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA). You’ll develop skills to unlock opportunities, drive innovation and create communication strategies that resonate in international contexts.

Drawing on the latest interdisciplinary research, you’ll learn how cultural differences shape interactions and discover tools to communicate more effectively and avoid misunderstandings in international contexts. Together with experts from the University of Cambridge, you’ll create a tailored development plan to enhance your intercultural interactions and apply it directly to your workplace.

You’ll also explore how intercultural competence can unlock new markets, build stronger networks and improve workplace productivity. As remote work expands and opportunities for cultural immersion decrease, you’ll gain strategies to build rapport, trust and connection across a global workforce.

By the end of this transformative journey, you’ll have the agility, clarity and sensitivity to lead in today’s globalised marketplace. Whether managing multicultural teams, negotiating across borders or enhancing your professional effectiveness, this course will empower you to communicate and collaborate internationally with confidence.

This course equals 64 hours of the CPD Certification Service(Opens in a new window) time.

This course explores essential skills for thriving in today’s globalised workforce. You’ll define VUCA and intercultural competence, learning how culture affects interactions, as well as how to improve workplace communication and collaboration. You’ll develop awareness of your own communication style and explore how empathy can enhance professional relationships. You’ll build a toolbox for adapting to cultural differences, navigating challenges with English as a lingua franca, and improving inclusion. And finally, you’ll create your own personal development plan.

• Module 1: Introduction

• Module 2: What is culture?

• Module 3: Cultural dimensions

• Module 4: Values at work

• Module 5: Your toolbox

• Module 6: Communication across cultures

• Module 7: Effective leadership and collaboration

• Module 8: Evaluation and next steps

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• assess the impact of VUCA on today’s workplace

• define culture and critique several cultural models

• explain the effect of cultural differences on interactions

• identify individual and cultural preferences for working practices and demonstrate the use of empathy when evaluating others

• define the culture adaptation process and develop a strategy to foster effective interactions at work

• assess the opportunities and challenges of using English as an international working language and develop strategies to use it in an effective and inclusive way

• apply inclusive teamwork and/or leadership skills to successfully complete tasks in a multicultural workplace

• evaluate and apply experience and knowledge to create a personal development action plan.

On successful completion of the course, you’ll receive a certificate from the University of Cambridge, along with valuable Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points and a digital badge to display on your LinkedIn profile. These Cambridge credentials not only showcase your knowledge and expertise, but also demonstrate your commitment to professional development – helping to future-proof your career.

This course is designed for professionals navigating the challenges and opportunities of working in culturally diverse environments.

• Professionals in a multi-cultural environment: Ideal for anyone operating internationally or working in organisations that operate across cultures, languages or countries, who are seeking to enhance collaboration and communication with international colleagues.

• EDIB practitioners: Great for people working in the field of equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) who are keen to integrate intercultural communication strategies into their diversity and inclusion initiatives.

• Expatriates or people working in non-native countries: Perfect for people who want to refine their workplace communication skills and adapt to cultural differences.

Our flexible, online courses – delivered via a world-leading learning platform – reflect the University of Cambridge experience and values, with low learner-to-tutor ratios and academically rigorous standards.

Our online learning model is designed to help you advance your skills and specialise in emerging areas that address real-world challenges. We will help you build your network through an engaging and impactful learning journey that encourages collaboration with academics and fellow learners.

Courses are delivered in weekly modules, allowing you to plan your time effectively around existing commitments. There is an optional weekly live session, which is recorded for anyone who can’t attend. The assessment criteria will be presented to you at the start of the course, so you can approach your studies with confidence and motivation, knowing exactly what’s expected of you and how to meet those expectations.

Throughout your online learning experience with Cambridge Advance Online, you’ll have digital access to a dedicated course tutor, an expert in the field, who will help steer your learning and provide you with support and guidance every step of the way.