ISSS Launches Cross-Cultural Training Program for Faculty/Staff Working with International Students

International students carrying flags from their countries at Commencement

In the late summer, Dean and Vice Provost Gilbert Valverde of CIEGS (Center for International Education and Global Strategy) shared with other Deans, Vice Provosts and Vice Presidents on campus about this approximately five-hour tailored training program delivered over the course of fall 2024 semester and beyond. With a strong alignment to the strategic plan and support from University leadership, this training will be very helpful to gaining further cross-cultural understanding, resources and tools.  

The Cross-Cultural Advisor Academy (iCEP) is a proprietary program developed by UAlbany/CIEGS' official partner ICAway. The training recently launched and will culminate with a certificate of completion while continuing to provide further tips, resources and tools into the future to advisors, counselors and others. iCEP training embraces the student life-cycle approach of supporting the success of higher education learners, from the time they enter the university to when they graduate and beyond. Research demonstrates that international students choose to study abroad at universities like UAlbany in order to gain knowledge and skills for becoming more competitive in the marketplace.   

With the international student life-cycle in mind, this cross-cultural training consists of three modules: 

  1. Bridging Cultural Gaps where participants better understand the cultural nuances impacting international students' behaviors and expectations in relationship building. 
     
  2. Redefining Networking explores strategies to help international students overcome networking fears and cultivate meaningful relationships on and off campus. 
     
  3. Empowering Advisors provides frameworks, tools and strategies for supporting international students as the navigate a stressful period of transition into the working world, including the copious amount of government processes and related post-graduation deadlines for work authorization and future sponsorship. The third and final module links back full-circle to not only the opening topic of cross-cultural understanding, but also for providing support and advocacy for a challenging stage of the international student life-cycle.  

Learn more about iCEP training and if interested in participating, email [email protected] for further details.