Cultural Competence for Work Course

Overview

Diversity has the power to drive meaningful collaboration, ideas, and innovation in the workplace — but can also cause misunderstandings without cultural competence. 

Gain the confidence and capability you need to work in multicultural teams through our cultural competency online course. Using practical strategies and real-world examples, you’ll learn how to create culturally intelligent environments that promote stronger relationships and make the most of culturally diverse workplaces.

Across 20 hours of flexible online study, you’ll gain tools to navigate cultural differences with respect and deepen your own self-awareness. You’ll explore practical approaches for applying cultural competency in everyday interactions, as well as the importance of developing business strategies that speak authentically to diverse audiences. Applicable in any Aotearoa New Zealand organisation, this short course helps you or your team grow cultural competency to enhance communication, teamwork, and overall workplace culture.

This cultural competence course is ideal for

• Professionals working in multicultural teams
• Leaders and people managers 
• Customer-facing staff engaging with diverse communities
• HR and people-focused kaimahi | staff 
• Anyone wanting to strengthen their cultural awareness and confidence

What you'll learn

This online cultural competence course gives you the skills to: 

• Develop a framework for analysing cultural dimensions beyond basic awareness
• Apply cultural intelligence (CQ) principles to global business situations
• Apply appropriate communication strategies and workflow across high/low context cultures and migrant colleagues
• Adapt written, verbal, and non-verbal business communications for global audiences
• Navigate business formalities and protocols across global regions
• Apply appropriate etiquette in various business and social contexts
• Develop business strategies that account for cultural market differences
• Adapt products, services and marketing for cultural appropriateness

This cultural competency online course brings these skills together to help you confidently navigate cultural differences in the workplace. By strengthening your cultural intelligence (CQ), you’ll be able to communicate more effectively, build inclusive professional relationships, and make culturally informed decisions.

Course outline

This cultural competency course is divided into four modules you'll work your way through over the learning period. Each module includes specific learning objectives, educational content across a range of media, and activities to apply what you've learnt.

Module 1: Cultural intelligence foundations and personal development
Establishing a conceptual framework and self-awareness. 

Module 2: Cross-cultural workplace communication strategies
Applying cultural intelligence in everyday workplace situations.

Module 3: Business etiquette in a connected world
Working smoothly with culturally and geographically diverse teams. 

Module 4: Build culturally responsive partnerships and products
Meeting your clients where they are — in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.

Assessments
All assessments are self-assessments and completion of the cultural competence course is determined by completion of all the learning modules and the self-assessment activities. 

Requirements

There are no prerequisites for this cultural competence course – it is open to anyone who has confidence listening, reading, and writing in English, and recommended for anyone seeking to develop their cultural awareness.

The course is designed to support effective interactions with migrant colleagues who have made New Zealand their home, as well as to build the skills needed for working with international partners and adapting products and services for overseas markets.

Technology requirements 
To study this cultural competency online course, we recommend: 

• A laptop or desktop computer and a reliable internet connection.
• A PDF reader (like Adobe Acrobat Reader DC) to download PDFs with assessment instructions.
• Word processing software (like Microsoft Word or Google Docs) to complete your assignments.

Course fees
Course fees must be paid before learning can begin, either via online credit-card payment, or you can request an invoice by filling out this form. Invoice requests must be submitted by the Monday before the course entry date. If you’re enquiring after that, we recommend paying by credit card to avoid any delay to enrolment.

Group discounts
Get your colleagues together to take advantage of our group discounts: 

• 10% for 3 - 6 learners
• 15% for 7+ learners

Contact our Enrolment Support Team to learn more and enquire now.

Withdrawals and refunds
Once learning begins, you are eligible for a withdrawal with refund up until the end of day 3. After this date, refunds may be available if your circumstances are exceptional, for example if you've experienced a serious medical event.

Our people

Please note: our academic team develop and present video content within this cultural competency online course, but are not always available to answer queries. Our learner experience team will be available to answer queries via support@uconline.ac.nz