Intercultural Dialogues: Engagement and Awareness (IDEA) Program

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The Intercultural Dialogues: Engagement and Awareness (IDEA) program places students in small groups to grow community through dialogue, exploring themes of identity, communication, power, and privilege in the context of intercultural growth. Participants will share experiences, discuss different perspectives, and develop connections with others. The IDEA program is open to all Penn students who embrace learning from others, want to learn more about themselves, and aim to enhance their intercultural understanding. 

Learn more about the program and apply! 

Program Structure

The IDEA program will take place over the course of 4 remote synchronous sessions beginning in late February, with students working primarily in small groups through guided activities and prompts. Each session will be approximately one hour in duration. Small group discussions will be facilitated by IDEA Student Leaders. 

Each of the IDEA sessions will hone your understanding of topics such as identity, power, privilege, and communication through a variety of interactive activities and exercises. These activities will foster your sense of community as a cohort and help you expand your Penn network while you grow as an intercultural communicator. 

Several students sitting at a bench outdoors.
Participant Expectations

Participants are required to attend all 4 synchronous meetings. The second and third meetings are to be coordinated within assigned small groups and participants are expected to find a time that works for everyone in their group. 

1st Meeting (all participants) Saturday, February 27, tentatively 10am ET
2nd Meeting Coordinated with your small group 
3rd Meeting Coordinated with your small group
4th Meeting (all participants) Saturday, March 20, tentatively 10am ET 

Participants are expected to be respectful, actively listen, and allow for everyone’s voice to be heard. You will develop an awareness of self, awareness of others, and a close network of peers to continue your intercultural journey at Penn and beyond. 

Apply by February 14, 2021
Application 

All Penn students (both domestic and international) are eligible to apply. Due to limited capacity, not all applicants will be selected to participate.  

Deadline to apply: 11:59PM ET on Sunday, February 14, 2021.  

Applicants will be informed by February 17, 2021. For any questions regarding IDEA or the application process, please contact us by email. 

Click Here to Apply by February 14!

Sponsors

The Intercultural Dialogues: Engagement and Awareness (IDEA) Program is made possible by ISSS in partnership with Greenfield Intercultural Center (GIC), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), the Penn Abroad, the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology (M&T), and the Weingarten Learning Resources Center (WLRC).

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