Management of Cultural Diversity

Globalization means movement. People, images, symbols, information, capital, goods and so on increasingly move from one corner of the world to another and people communicate with other people many miles away. As a consequence, individual people are increasingly facing different influences and ideas from other parts of the world. People with a Catholic or Calvinist inspiration speaking Italian or Dutch meet with other people with a Hindu or Candomblè background speaking Hindi or Portuguese and feel challenged or inspired by each other. Global communication media like the internet and means of rapid transportation facilitate such encounters. The same holds true for multinational organizations that expand globally and thus incorporate people with all kinds of cultural orientations in their workforce. Organizations and societal fields such as the labour market, education, health care and arts and culture are increasingly made up of employees and citizens with different identities and have to deal with customers and citizens with diverse orientations and world views.

Thus, globalization and cultural diversity turn societal fields and organizations into very dynamic places and render individual experiences very exciting but perhaps also menacing to some extent. Societal fields, organizations and individual people are challenged by people speaking different languages, having different norms and values and adhering to different religions, which leads to new encounters and exchanges but also to confrontations and tensions. In many countries this new cultural diversity triggered by globalizations comes on top of already existing diversity in terms of languages, religions, ethnicities and racial groups, like in India, Spain, The Netherlands, South Africa, Mexico and Turkey. Numerous questions are raised in this framework, such as:

• What does it mean to a hospital when patients with various religious beliefs need tailor-made care?
• How are production and service delivery affected when people from all parts of the world come together to communicate and work in a company?
• What are the consequences when citizens representing different identities, traditions, languages and beliefs send their children to mixed schools?
• Do people with different ethnic backgrounds get equal opportunities in the labour market?

Cultural diversity entails both risks and opportunities. Risks: think of miscommunication, conflict and exclusion. Opportunities: think of innovating ideas, creativity and renewal of production and service delivery. Consequently, there is need for management, policy and intervention to deal with these risks and opportunities, i.e. to neutralize the risks and take advantage of the opportunities presented by cultural diversity. There are no standard management and policy solutions available so far. New answers need to be developed in each specific case, place, organization or field based on a sound understanding of the issues involved at that moment and in that particular context.

The aim of our Master's programme in Management of Cultural Diversity is, first, to equip students with the necessary expertise, tools and skills to analyze cases of cultural diversity in organizations and societal fields like education, health care, labour market and arts and culture. Second, based on such an analysis they will be able to design management interventions to neutralize the risks and to take advantage of the opportunities stemming from cultural diversity. Tilburg University is well positioned to offer such a programme. It disposes of high-level and internationally oriented expertise in the various relevant academic fields, embodied by teaching staff firmly embedded in and intellectually nourished by relevant research programmes.

Management of Cultural Diversity (MCD) curriculum starts with a full-time intro course in which the basic concepts and theories regarding the field of management of cultural diversity will be discussed. The intro course will be provided in daily meetings of lectures and workshops during the first two weeks. In the third week, students will be visiting an organization to have a first encounter with and study cultural diversity in practice. The course finalizes with a personal paper and two group assignments.

The second course is the full-time intensive Cultural Identity and Diversity course in which the key concepts of culture, identity, diversity, ethnicity, language, religion etc., will be discussed in details. The course will be provided in four lectures over a period of three weeks.

The lecturers and students will basically draw on the main disciplines focusing on these concepts: anthropology, language studies, religion studies, culture studies, sociology, etc. It finalizes with a pair paper about one of the subjects introduced in the course and exemplified in an issue that was in the media recently.

Parallel to these two courses, there is a small research methods module on Research Interview. The students learn to carry out research by interviewing people individually and in focus groups. In this way students acquire knowledge and experience in techniques of questioning, prompting and evaluation in a face-to-face context and online. Moreover, they are introduced in qualitative means for the analysis of answers, and in presenting results.

In the second unit the focus is on the intervention side of cultural diversity in two parallel courses. First, Cultural Diversity Policies in which lecturers will focus on experiences of cultural diversity in de sectors of health care, education and arts and culture and on the options available for policy development regarding these issues in these sectors. Second, Cultural Diversity Management, which focuses on cultural diversity in the labor force of individual organizations and its challenges for management, employees and management options available.

Both courses include an exam plus a research /site visit based on which students write a group assignment. It also includes a wider focus on cultural diversity and the labor market as a whole. The second unit also has a course on Ethnographic Research or Analysis of Variance.

Ethnographic Research starts with positioning the empirical interpretive or qualitative research paradigm, and more specifically the field of school ethnography, from a historical, epistemological and content perspective. After that attention is paid to three methods of data collection (conducting observations, conducting interviews and collecting documents) leading to an ethnographic corpus of (transcribed) texts, and to possible methods of data analysis, such as key incident analysis and (international) triangulation of observations and a socio-culturally oriented discourse analysis of interviews. In doing so existing ethnographic corpora are used. Finally attention is paid to the recent incorporation of ethnographic methods in the study of multilingualism in the field of sociolinguistic ethnography.

Analysis of Variance concentrates on regression analysis and analysis of variance. After completing this course, students should be able to choose and carry out appropriate statistical analysis for a variety of research questions involving continuous data. Moreover, they should be able to provide sound interpretation of such analyses and report their results accurately and accessibly.

Already in the last week of September, students register for a thesis circle of four students plus a supervisor. In this circle the students develop an individual problem statement for their thesis research. On the basis of this problem statement we have our Research Practicum in the third and fourth week of January and first week of February allowing students in their circle to develop this statement into a full-blown research proposal. After approval of this research proposal, students can start carrying out their research plan.

We very much encourage students to do their thesis project abroad to experience themselves what it means to operate in a culturally diverse environment. There or elsewhere they are also enabled to do an elective course that supports their thesis subject. That can be done in Tilburg University or in some other university of the student's choice.

Meanwhile we continue to have our circle meetings in real-life or virtually. At the end of June or the August 15th, students are able to hand in their thesis so they can finalize their program within one year.

Audience

In our view, students are participants when it comes to the exchange of knowledge that occurs every day at Tilburg University!

The Master’s programme Management of Cultural Diversity (MCD) provides you (1) with the tools – knowledge, skills and critical analytical ways of thinking – to analyze, interpret and approach issues of cultural diversity, and (2) with the means to design strategies and interventions to deal with these issues based on this analysis and understanding, taking into account social and societal responsibility. These tools will enable you to perform your future profession in an independent way and on an academic level.

You develop into an academically trained expert in management of cultural diversity with the following qualifications:

• You will dispose of profound knowledge and understanding of the central academic theories, knowledge and concepts regarding management of cultural diversity as a specialization of either Arts- and Culture Sciences or Communication and Information Sciences;
• As a graduate, you are able to apply understandings, theories and problem solving into a definition of a problem and research question related to the management of cultural diversity in new and unfamiliar environments and consequently select the adequate methods of research to reach at valid and reliable results as well as well supported proposals for solutions and interventions;
• You are capable of translating results into policy and intervention advice for (multicultural) institutes, (governmental) organisations and companies. The programme prepares you for analyzing issues regarding cultural diversity in societal fields as well as in companies and governmental organisations and to bring forward proposals for policy and management intervention. You will be able to integrate knowledge and formulate critical judgement including reflection on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of this knowledge and judgement;
• You are able to communicate research results and intervention decisions and their underlying arguments and data to both specialist and non-specialist audiences;
• As a graduate, you articulate knowledge of cultural diversity and its management with an academic habit that encourages and enables you to life-long learning.

Before applying, please make sure that you meet the following requirements:You have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, such as general Culture Studies, Liberal Arts and Sciences (major Humanities or Social Siences), or Organisation Studies. Students with a Bachelor's degree in a different subject are most welcome to apply, but we strongly recommend that you consult us in advance for advice.An adequate knowledge of English is required. Please send us a certified copy of ONE of the following English proficiency tests: Academic IELTS (min. 6.5 overall/6.0 on parts), TOEFL (min. paper-based: 577, computer-based: 233, internet-based: 90; the TOEFL Institutional Code for Tilburg University is 9860) or Cambridge Proficiency Examination. The English proficiency tests must be less than two years old at the time of application.You are exempt from an English test:A) If you are a native English speaker, i.e. if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America.B) If you completed all your secondary education in English. This only applies to scholars from the following countries: Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America.C) If you completed all your university education in English. This only applies to scholars from the following countries: Australia, Canada (with exception of Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America.D) If you have an International Baccalaureate (IB) or European Baccalaureate (EB) diploma with English as the language of instruction.E) If you completed a 4-years Bachelor’s program (of at least 240 ECTS credits) fully in English in an accredited University of Applied Sciences (HBO) in the Netherlands.F) If you completed a 3-years Academic Bachelor’s program (of at least 180 ECTS credits) fully in English in an accredited Research University the Netherlands.G) If you completed a 1 or 2-years Academic Master’s program (of at least 60 or 120 ECTS credits respectively) fully in English in an accredited Research University the Netherlands.In all other cases, please send us a certified copy of ONE of the following English proficiency tests:Academic IELTS (min. 6.5 overall/6.0 on parts)TOEFL (min. paper-based: 577, computer-based: 233, internet-based: 90; the TOEFL Institutional Code for Tilburg University is 9860)Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) with a min. level of BCambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 577 TOEFL iBT® test: 90 Work Experience No work experience is required. n.a. Technological Requirements n.a.

Tilburg University offers scholarships for both prospective and current students. At Tilburg University we are committed in supporting financially talented and motivated students to study in our graduate programs. Below you will find a short description and a link to various types of scholarships which can help you finance your study at Tilburg University.

Please note that the number of scholarships are limited and mainly targeted at students with excellent study results. We therefore recommend you to carefully read the requirements and deadlines.

Scholarships sponsored by Tilburg University

• Tilburg University Scholarship for Academic Excellence
  Scholarship and tuition waiver for excellent non-EU/EEA students enrolling in a Master's degree program at Tilburg University.
• TSH - Scholarship for Academic Excellence
  Scholarship for excellent EU/EEA students enrolling in a Master's degree program at Tilburg School of Humanities.
• Tilburg - Orange Tulip Scholarship China
  Tuition waiver for outstanding Chinese students enrolling in a Master's degree program at Tilburg University.
• Tilburg - Orange Tulip Scholarship Indonesia
  Tuition waiver for outstanding Indonesian students enrolling in a Master's degree program at Tilburg University.
• Tilburg - Orange Tulip Scholarship Korea
  Tuition waiver for outstanding Korean students enrolling in a Master's degree program at Tilburg University.
• Tilburg - Orange Tulip Scholarship Mexico
  Tuition waiver for outstanding Mexican students enrolling in a Master's degree program at Tilburg University.

Scholarships and Loan Programs in cooperation with Tilburg University

• NFP Scholarship
  The Netherlands Fellowship Program is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and offers a scholarship to students from more than 60 different countries. The NFP Scholarship is designed to promote capacity building, and is applicable to PhD programs or to one of the following Master study programs at Tilburg University:
  • MA in Communication and Information Sciences
  • MA in Management of Cultural Diversity
  • Research Master in Language and Communication
  • Research Master in Philosophy
• StuNed Scholarship
  Scholarship available for Indonesian professionals with at least two years of work experience in a development-related organization.
• Conicyt Scholarship
  Scholarship available for Master and PhD candidates from Chile. Tilburg University offers an additional tuition waiver.
• COLFUTURO Scholarship
  Loan-scholarship available for Master and PhD candidates from Colombia. Tilburg University offers an additional tuition waiver.
• UAF Scholarship
  Scholarship available for refugees and asylum seekers who would like to pursue their study program at a Dutch University.
• Sino-Dutch Bilateral Exchange Scholarship
  Joint Scholarship Program for Chinese Master and PhD students, who will take a Master program or full PhD study or period of PhD dissertation research at Tilburg University.
• FIDERH Scholarship
  Scholarship available for Mexican citizens, with a bachelor's degree, that have an unconditional offer for a Master or PhD.
• EUROSA + Scholarship
  Part of the Erasmus Mundus program, scholarships for students and researchers from South Africa who want to spend (part of) their studies at Tilburg University. The scholarship is available for a wide range of study fields.
• PENTA Scholarship Part of the Erasmus Mundus program, scholarship for students and researchers from Western Balkan countries, who want to spend (part of) their studies at Tilburg University. The scholarship is available for a wide range of study fields.
• Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme
  Scholarship program for Turkish students who want to to follow a Master's programs at Tilburg University. Minimum stay of 3 months required, maximum stay of 12 months, scholarship covers approximately all expenses. The scholarship is available for the following Masters::
  • Communication and Information Studies
  • Management of Cultural Diversity

Other scholarships

More information on grants can be found at Grantfinder

Excellence Scholarship for TiU students

Excellent students with a Bachelor degree of Tilburg University, can apply for an Excellence Scholarship. The scholarship must be used for a Master's abroad or a Research Master at Tilburg University.

Accreditation

On April 3, 2013, the NVAO (Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders) decided to award Tilburg University the education quality assurance label. This label "expresses that the internal quality care and the efforts of an institution for higher education to improve its performance in relation to the quality of its programs has been positively assessed by the accreditation organization."
The NVAO assessment panel has tested Tilburg University's policy on five standards: quality vision, education policy, results, improvement policy, and organization and decision structure. In addition, the panel explored three "critical themes" :

• the assessment policy in the Bachelor's degree program of Liberal Arts and Sciences;
• responsible citizenship in the Bachelor's program of Business Economics and the Master's program of Marketing Management, and
• internationalization in the Bachelor's and Master's programs in Law.

The assessment panel concluded that Tilburg University is home to a vibrant and stimulating quality culture and has a relevant and widely supported vision on educational quality. The panel expressed its appreciation for the consistency of Tilburg University's quality policy, for example, in the development of research-based learning at the Tilburg School of Economics and Management.
The result of the Institutional Quality Assurance Assessment remains valid for six years. This label means that individual programs will be subject to a much lighter accreditation regime than if the university had not passed the assessment.