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IDRInstitute Mission Statement

We know that:

  • The world is inevitably becoming more multicultural, as increasingly mobile people reaffirm their unique cultural identities.
  • Cross-cultural contact frequently leads to increased ethnocentric tension and violence.
  • Intercultural sensitivity and communication competence are necessary to counteract ethnocentrism and to foster respectful and productive multicultural teams/organizations/communities/nations/regions.

 

We see that:

  • The pace of cross-cultural contact is increasing due to refugees from climate change and war, along with traditional forms of migration.
  • Political/economic/social tension and ethnocentrism is predictably increasing worldwide.
  • Intercultural communication training/education as practiced (in a relativist paradigm) is often inadequate to the task of counteracting the movement towards intergroup hatred and violence

 

We therefore need to:

  • Affirm the constructivist roots of intercultural theory and develop new forms of post-relativist intercultural communication practice.
  • Recognize a constructivist form of intercultural communication as the key element in the social evolution of global organizations
  • Establish constructivist intercultural consciousness as the key to creating a climate of respect for cultural diversity in multicultural organizations and communities

 

Organizational Operations

The Intercultural Development Research Institute was formed in 2006 to support the development of a coherent, practical, and relevant research-based perspective on domestic and international intercultural relations.

In the USA, IDRInstitute is a non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation registered in Washington State, USA. Internationally, IDRInstitute Europa is a non-profit association located in Milano, Italy.

The IDRInstitute is not affiliated with any religious or political organization.

IDRInstitute Board of Directors

IDRInstitute Activities

Research Projects

IDRInstitute proposes and conducts original constructivist research and supports other relevant research. Exclusive projects have included a study funded by Intercultura assessing the intercultural development sensitivity of exchange homestay families, a study funded by the Province of Milano assessing intercultural development as an outcome of intercultural training for healthcare workers, and a study funded by the City of Milan on women’s adaptation to climate change. IDRInstitute also participates in EU-funded research, including two Erasmus+ projects for nursing education and an MKS support program for international development.

 

Conference Development

Independently or in partnership with other organizations, IDRInstitute plans and executes “coherent conferences” on intercultural topics. Projects have included the large Moving Beyond Mobility conference in Berlin that featured an international array of presenters on intercultural exchange topics, and the conference series Forum on Intercultural Learning and Exchange held annually in Colle Val d’Elsa , Italy, and Vienna, Austria. At EXPO 2015 in Milan, IDRInstitute was a sponsoring partner in designing the Summer School of Sustainable Human Development.

Professional Support

The IDRInstitute offices in Milano are available for small meetings associated with SIETAR and other nonprofit intercultural organizations and for individuals who are working on intercultural projects. In addition, the institute funds and organizes activities such as World Café and media events at intercultural conferences.

Keynote/ Presentations

IDRInstitute provides funding for institute staff and selected researcher travel associated with invited keynotes and competitive paper presentations. Support has been provided for presentations at IAIR, IACCP, IAIE, SIETAR, TESOL, NAFSA, FORUMEA, and various other conferences.

 

IDRInstitute Partners

IDRInstitute partners with a number of professional societies, agencies,  schools , and programs that share a commitment to constructivist intercultural theory and practice.

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