The Role and Importance of Culture and Commerce in International Relations

3 Credits.

This course discusses and analyzes a myriad of cultural and social mores that can foster or inhibit effective communication and collaborative work, even for those sharing a common language. The course will provide strategies and best practices to enhance effective communication across institutions and to anticipate, recognize and address misunderstandings before they escalate. Issues include: language, local meanings, socio-political structures, cultural identity, time zones, working weeks, institutional imperatives, faculty-administration dynamics, and the role of a research administrator in differing countries.