Global Competence Certificate added to faculty and staff development programs

The Faculty and Staff Development program sponsored by Pitt’s Department of Human Resources is going global this year.

As part of the Year of Global, the Global Competence Certificate program has been added to the fall lineup of development classes, which also includes workshops on mental health issues, personal finance, management skills, a variety of technology, career development, research administration and more.

The global certificate program includes two required courses — “Embracing the World at Pitt” (1-3 p.m. Oct. 10) and “Intercultural Competency: Beyond the Basics” (9 a.m.-noon Oct. 19) — along with four electives and participation in a Capstone Conversation facilitated by a member of the Global Engagement team at the University Center for International Studies.

The electives are offered on a rotating basis in the fall and spring. The classes, which are heald at 342 Craig Hall, are broken into two modules (classes offered this fall are in bold):

Electives Track 1: Cross-Cultural Module

  • Understanding China (9-11 a.m. Nov. 8)
  • Understanding East Asia
  • Understanding South Asia (India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh)
  • Understanding the Middle East
  • Understanding Africa
  • Understanding Eastern Europe, Russia & Eurasia
  • Understanding Western Europe
  • Understanding Latin America & the Caribbean
  • Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity & the IDI Assessment Tool
  • Cross-Cultural Simulation

Electives Track 2: Operating in an International Context

  • Global Operations: Planning Considerations for International Engagement
  • Strategies and Resources for International Travel
  • Creating a Successful Study Abroad Program
  • Academic Visitors at Pitt
  • International Partnership Agreements (9-11 a.m. Dec. 5)
  • Working with International Students
  • Working with International Scholars & Employees

According to the Office of Human Resources, the Global Competence Certificate “offers faculty and staff the opportunity to build awareness and understanding of diverse cultures, while learning about University policies and resources that support our strategic goal of embracing the world.”

Healthy U classes

In addition to “Introduction to Mindfulness” (noon-1 p.m. Oct. 18, 342 Craig Hall), the Healthy U program is offering several new classes this fall, mostly focused on mental health awareness.

The new programs include:

  • “Can I Keep My Social Media and My Sanity” (noon-1:30 p.m. Nov. 30, 342 Craig Hall)
  • “Resilience: How to Weather Life’s Storms Without Getting Soaked” (noon-1:30 p.m. Dec. 11, 342 Craig Hall)
  • “Write Now! At the Center for Creativity” (noon-1:30 p.m. Nov. 1). This workshop will help participants who want to write but are not sure where to start.

All faculty and staff development programs are free and can be taken, at your supervisor’s discretion, during work hours without using vacation or personal time.