Intercultural Zoom: Space

## About the workshop

When you want to understand how cultures differ, the observation of how people deal with or time or space are good places to start. Variations in the interpretation and the management of time and space are responsible for many cultural surprises, often even for cultural irritation or culture shock.

This will be the second workshop discussing the cultural concept of space. Even if you weren't able to join the first workshop on the concept of time, we welcome you to join, as the 2 workshops are related, but not dependent on each other.

In this workshop we will explore our own frame of reference: what norms do we uphold related to space? How do our views of space affect how we communicate, even interrelate? We consider these questions on a personal level, but also on the level of groups and organizations.

Secondly, we turn our gaze to the world around us: what does space mean to people in Asia, Africa or Latin America? And can the way different cultures deal with space tell us something about how they deal with more complex constructs like power, group dynamics, change, trust?

To conclude, we address a question that is not without weight when living in an international city like Leuven: how can we go about managing expectations on space in our ever more interconnected and diverse world? Can we adopt a management of space that functions as a solid base for constructive relationships instead of as a trigger for conflict? We use the rich intercontinental background of the participants to gain deeper understanding.

## Who is this workshop for?

Anyone who wants to share, discuss, or learn more about the challenges that come with being surrounded by other cultures, whether you are an international or not, everyone is welcome! We happily open the doors to any Belgians that would like to learn about this topic too!

## When & Where

Date: November 16
Time: 14:00-16:00
Where: International House Leuven (Tiensevest 60)

## Registration

Registration is required via Meetup

## About the speaker - Gunilla de Graef

For over 20 years now, diversity and inclusion have been the central themes in my professional activities. As a staff member of several centers of expertise, I have been able to develop my thinking and working around difference in all possible directions. Sometimes with a focus on cultural diversity, other times aimed at diversity in a broad sense. I have supervised dozens of trainings and workshops, for the most diverse target groups and in very different contexts. I have coordinated practice-based research, worked out methodologies, developed competence frameworks, supported expertise sharing, built networks. All assignments from which I drew much inspiration and motivation.

Because I was active not only as a trainer but also as a consultant and researcher, I practiced myself in always thinking along two tracks: that of practical implementation and that of the vision, the policy that sets a framework around that concrete implementation. When thinking about methodologies, approaches, learning tools, I was inspired by literature, but especially by the skill and commitment of colleagues and people in the field. In addition, regular participation in domestic and foreign study days, conferences and colloquia helped me to draw out my own action framework for a powerful diversity policy. At the same time, I was also able to develop a good view of the activities of other actors in the field of diversity, both nationally and internationally.