SUBJECT

Continuous Field-work in Interpersonal and Intercultural Psychology

practical

master

Faculty of Education and Psychology

6

Semester 4

Spring semester

Aim of the course

The field practice is a total of 180 practice hours (90 hours + 90 hours preparation for field work). During the semester the students’ work is mentored and at the end evaluated by a teacher from IIPE, and also by a mentor from the institution where the practice takes place.

The goal of the practice is the integration of students’ theoretical knowledge, and the application of this knowledge in real life situations in order to further develop the acquired skills.
The practice is designed to promote the understanding of intercultural relations and communication in various areas of national and international life (e.g. education and education institutions, public and civil society, and the private sector), and to be able to successfully organize the work of people with different cultural backgrounds.

Learning outcomes and competencies

knowledge:

• Knowledge and understanding of the main characteristics of the values of different cultures
• Knowledge of the historical and cultural aspects of the relationship between majority & minority groups

• Knowledge of national minorities and the relevant legal documents  concerning them

• Knowledge and understanding of stereotypes and prejudices as well as methods that help to reduce prejudices

attitude:

• Openness to accepting the values of other cultures
• Recognition of cultural differences, the importance of individual cultural identities and the complexity of everybody’s identity
• Acceptance of the fact that the co-existence of cultures may lead to conflicts in every field of social life, which can be solved peacefully in pluralistic societies
• Sensitivity to every form of social discrimination

skills:

• work planning and implementation
• eflective analysis of one’s own professional activity
• In one’s activity taking account of basic human rights and the transformation process of values as well
• Ability to represent and convey the acquired intercultural knowledge and psychological approach in one’s work
• Ability to reflect on the hidden assumptions of one’s own culture, to identify and critically relate to someone’s own prejudices and ethnocentric views
• Ability to create a working environment in which the partners feel valued, accepted; ability to work in constructive ways

Content of the course

Topics of the course

The place of the practice can be chosen together by the student and the teacher of IIPE from the possible practice places of IIPE.  After selecting the place of the practice, students prepare a work plan in consultation with the mentor from the institution of the practice. It includes the specific tasks and their time schedule. The following types of activities can be performed (as examples): participation in analysis and research activities; examination of the operation of the organization (e.g from the point of view of diversity management); studies - theoretical literature analysis related to the activities of the practice place; individual (personal) mentoring; creating and implementing community (intercultural) programs, organizing group sessions and individual consultations (after consultation with the mentor, and IIPE teacher), etc.

Learning activities, learning methods

Active participation in the work of the organization (field work). Group and individual consultations.

Evaluation of outcomes

Requirements:

• Participation in group consultation at the beginning and end of the semester, as well as individual consultation with a teacher from IIEP (min. 2 individual consultation).
• Accomplishment of field work(90+90 hours)
• Written summary of the experience of the field work, integrated with the previously acquired theoretical knowledge, divided into three parts: 1. expectations concerning the organization in relation to field practice, getting to know the organization, initial impressions, reflections; 2. mid-term reflection about the activities (specifically what kind of activities were carried out by the student, and as a result what kind of experiences has the student gained, etc.); 3. summary of the practice from a multicultural perspective, analysis of the activity.
  In the writings, experiences should be interpreted beyond lay, everyday life concepts. It is expected from students to be able to reflect on their own professional development from a professional perspective, using the concepts, theories which were part of their theoretical training (e.g. theoretical model of development of intercultural competences), statements should be supported by scholarly references. Also, the document should include the analysis of the organization: on one hand the organization's structure, composition (organizational analysis, on the other hand, the activities of the organization.

Method of evaluation: 

• Certification of accomplishment from the practice place
• Evaluation from the mentor (1-5 grading and text feedback)
• Evaluation of written assignments

Criteria of evaluation:

• Evaluation of the mentor(50%).
• omplexity, consistency, self-reflexivity, professionalism and theoretical embeddedness of the written assignments (50%)

• Jackson, B. W. & Holvino, E. (1996) Developing Multicultural Organizations. (Re-write) Originally published in 1988 in The Journal of Religion and the Applied Behavioral Sciences, 9 (2), 14-19.Also published in B. Abramms and G.F. Simons (Eds.), 1996, Cultural Diversity Sourcebook: Getting Real About Diversity, (pp. 228-234). Amherst, MA ODT.
• Rosado, C. (2006). What do we mean by “managing diversity”. Workforce Diversity, 3, 1-15.
• Sieck, W. R., Smith, J. L., & Rasmussen, L. J. (2013). Metacognitive strategies for making sense of cross-cultural encounters. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 44(6), 1007-1023.