Professionalization

At the beginning of the academic year, the DEI Team offers 3 different modules to mentors: 1 basic session and 2 advanced ones, as outlined below. 

Mentor Training (basic) 

This compulsory module is for all newly starting mentors. It consists of a 3 h training and skill building session which focuses on privilege and cultural differences.  After the session, mentors are able to identify the impact that cultural differences may have on their mentor group and they have formulated strategies to create a more inclusive space.

Mentor Trainings (advanced)

• Session on Empathy 

This compulsory advanced module is designed for experienced mentors. It consists of a 3 h training and skill-building session which focuses mainly on (self)- empathy. This module enables experienced mentors to use empathy and/or self-empathy to initiate intercultural dialogues with their mentees. 

• Session on Gender Bias

In addition to the compulsory session on empathy, experienced mentors are asked to choose 3  advanced sessions that aim to broaden or deepen their skill set. This session on gender is one of  these optional modules. 

This advanced module is designed for experienced mentors. It consists of a 2h training session which focuses on gender equality. This session enables experienced mentors to provide equitable treatment to all genders in their activities as mentors.

Each year, the DEI Team delivers: 

• the Training for Teaching Assistants (also called TA Training)
• a tailored TA training for SSG

Training for Teaching Assistants

The Training for Teaching Assistants (also called TA Training), coordinated by the PIE Team, takes place in terms 1a, 1b and 2a. It is designed for BSc and MSc students of FSE who work or intend to work as teaching assistants and who want to develop their skills to become certified and efficient TAs. The course  consists of 3 sessions (of 3 hours each), as well as some preparatory and finalizing assignments. The third session focuses on intercultural competences and culturally inclusive teaching. The aim of this 3rd session is to  enhance TAs’ intercultural awareness  in order to facilitate the learning of culturally diverse students. Upon successful completion of all final assignments for each 3 sessions, TAs are awarded a certificate. 

The TA Training for Science & Society Group 

This 2h training session is designed for the TAs of Science and Society Group. The aim of this training is to help TAs recognise cultural differences among the students, the different academic cultures their students may have experienced and their different communication styles. Further, the training gives TAs tools and tips to adapt to different communication styles.

As part of the introduction events for first-year students, our team offers the following: 

Introduction to the Dutch session

After this 2h workshop,  students who have recently arrived in the Netherlands and Groningen, are able to identify some core values of Dutch society  and the Dutch academic system and how these manifest in daily encounters. 

Introduction Events (Bachelors, Masters & PreMasters) 

In the past years, the DEI team was involved in introduction events and tried to help students become aware of the international environment they study in. The DEI delivered  a 1h session during the faculty Masters and PreMasters introductions. An animation film designed by DEI is shown yearly to new bachelor students too. 

Betastuf training for all Study Associations

To this day, the  DEI yearly designed and delivered a tailor-made training for the Board members of all the Study Associations of FSE for Betastuf. The duration, format, focus and objectives of these trainings vary each year and is defined by the Betastuf chair.  

In the past years, our sessions focused, in turn, on: 

• Cultural diversity and inclusion
• Unconscious biases
• Gender identity & inclusion
• Inclusive language

In former trainings, we also offered group and/ or individual assessments as well as association specific consultancy. 

Study Association specific training

On demand, the DEI Team also provides advice and/or training to members of a given Study Association. These past years, the team delivered workshops to prepare Idun GLV language buddies and make them aware of the challenges newly arrived international students may run into at FSE. The team has also trained their active committee members to help them design and facilitate more inclusive activities. 

PhD students

Each year, DEI team delivers 3 editions of the Teacher Training for PhDs to PhD candidates who work or intend to work as teaching assistants. These trainings enable the participants to develop and practice their intercultural and culturally inclusive teaching skills.

These courses are initiated and coordinated by the PIE team.

The course ‘How to teach tutorials’ consists of 5 workshops of 3.5h and some assignments. The second and fourth sessions focus on intercultural competences and culturally inclusive teaching. 

The course ‘How to supervise’ consists of 5 workshops of 3.5h and some assignments. In 3 sessions, participants focus on identifying the impact of cultural diversity on the supervision process,  developing intercultural awareness and providing feedback in a culturally sensitive manner.

In cooperation with the Corporate Academy of the UG, the DEI team offers 3 modules on supervising PhD candidates across cultures. In addition to a generic session on supervising in an intercultural environment, the DEI team also offers workshops focusing on the Netherlands and another one on China. The course is offered both in spring and fall.

Registration is done via the Corporate Academy:

Tenure trackers 

For years and until 2022, DEI provided UTQ sessions to the Tenure Trackers participants from FSE. 

We delivered two 3.5h sessions focussing on intercultural competences  in the UTQ course. The objectives of the sessions were to help teachers

• identify students’ cultural diversity, related expectations and behaviors, and adjust teaching and learning activities accordingly
• develop their own intercultural competences