High-tech way to learn about cultural mix

TEACHING CULTURAL diversity has become more innovative with a new programme that can be delivered directly to your mobile phone, iPod or PC.

The flexible multimedia training programme, Managing Workplace Diversity, is a partnership between Dublin City University and Dublin-based learning and communications company Channel Content.

The video-based project, which can be tailored for individual users, was originally devised as part of a collaborative effort between a number of different universities in a pan-European project, the European Intercultural Workplace (EIW), that had been in development for three years. DCU was the co-ordinator of the project.

However, Channel Content’s involvement saw the material being developed. The company took the base material, included voice-overs and animations, and edited the content into smaller “video vignettes” that could be sent to mobile phones or viewed on a PC, enhancing the value of the material.

The programme covers topics such as food, religion, gender, body language and racism. The video clips identify specific issues and use enacted workplace scenarios that suggest best practice. The programme is supported by written material such as tutor and learner guides, and online assessments.

While collaborations between universities and industry partners have become more commonplace, this project brought together the humanities side of research instead of simply technology. It has been somewhat of a success, DCU’s innovation centre Invent said.

“It’s almost a textbook technology transfer,” said Invent’s Paddy O’Boyle. “Channel Content is going after a global market. In many ways, it’s worked very smoothly. Often it’s very difficult to manage technologies to Irish companies; it can often be contentious trying to agree commercial terms. This has just been smooth all the way through.”

The project was helped by Enterprise Ireland’s Innovation Voucher scheme, which was used to engage a consultant to analyse a market for the project.

“Channel Content is an expert in training, but intercultural training is a brand new area for them,” said Mr O’Boyle.

“The EI Voucher was fundamentally important to push it over the line. Channel Content might have been wary of investing time and effort into this without being sure there was a market.”

The programme was unveiled this week by the Minister for Lifelong Learning, Seán Haughey, who said the project would be of great assistance in further understanding the different cultures who have come to live and work in Ireland.

“Our capacity for innovation will draw on creativity and skills fostered by humanities and social sciences research as well as through the creative arts, science and technology.

“It is through the fusion of our strengths across all of these disciplines that we can develop and exploit our full innovation potential,” he said.

“ ‘Managing Workplace Diversity’ is an excellent example of successful collaboration between our universities and the business community.”