From 25 to 27 August 2026, the Society “Park of Intelligence” organised intercultural communication training for professionals from various fields at Riga English Grammar School, within the framework of the project “The Opportunity Society. Intercultural Communication Training for Professionals from Various Fields to Strengthen the Framework for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals”, No. PMIF/13.4./2024/1/01.
The training was attended by education professionals from Riga English Grammar School, Riga Rainis Secondary School, Riga Secondary School No. 93, Riga Secondary School 34, Grammar School of Nordic Languages, and Riga Ziepniekkalna Secondary School. For all the participating educators, their daily professional work is directly related to third-country nationals; therefore, the training content was closely linked to their practical work experience and professional needs. The aim of the training was to enhance participants’ understanding of social diversity and intercultural communication, helping them better recognise the influence of culture on people’s communication and behaviour, understand the experiences of people from different cultural backgrounds, and choose the most appropriate approaches when working with people from different countries.
On the first day of the training, Mg. in Social and Political Sciences and journalist Oleksii Zarychanskyi shared his experience and insights into the integration of Ukrainian civilians into Latvian society, with particular attention to how individuals can preserve their cultural identity while becoming part of a new society. Meanwhile, Dr.philol., Prof. Elīna Vasiļjeva addressed the formation of stereotypes and their impact on interpersonal communication in an interactive format, encouraging participants to reflect on their own perceptions and assumptions about different groups within society.
The training continued with Dr.habil. philol., Prof. Janīna Kursīte, who focused on the significance of cultural processes in the interaction between cooperation and diversity. Theoretical insights were complemented by practical examples, allowing participants to better understand how cultural experiences and values influence people’s behaviour, communication with one another, and interpretation of different situations. Dr.philol., Lecturer Ingrīda Kupšāne then worked with the participants to explore how the language of cinema and theatre reflects the experiences, values, and forms of communication of different cultures.
On the final day of the training, the project’s lead lecturer, Dr.philol., Prof. Maija Burima, focused on the connections between the theoretical and practical aspects of intercultural communication and social diversity. Participants analysed how cultural differences can influence communication, perception, and cooperation between people in different situations, relating the knowledge acquired during the training to situations that professionals may encounter in their everyday work. A practical perspective on intercultural interaction was provided by Karunamoorthy Rengasamy Kannathasan, a researcher at Riga Technical University, who, as an Indian citizen, shared his own intercultural experiences in Latvia and offered participants an opportunity to explore the integration process from the perspective of a third-country national.
At the end of the training, participants were invited to evaluate the organisation, content, and practical usefulness of the training. The survey results indicated a very high level of participant satisfaction. Particular appreciation was expressed for the professional organisation of the training, the well-structured content, the competence of the lecturers, and the variety of teaching methods used. Participants highly valued the opportunity to gain new knowledge about intercultural communication and social diversity, discuss their professional experiences with colleagues, and compare different perspectives.
The Society “Park of Intelligence” would like to thank all the training participants for their active involvement, meaningful discussions, and willingness to share their experiences. We also highly appreciate the contribution of all the lecturers involved in the training.
The training was organised within the framework of the project “The Opportunity Society. Intercultural Communication Training for Professionals from Various Fields to Strengthen the Framework for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals”, No. PMIF/13.4./2024/1/01.
This publication was created with the support of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
The content of the publication is the responsibility of the Daugavpils University Society for Lifelong Learning, Culture and Science Communication “Park of Intelligence”.
Project funding: CO-FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION
Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund – 75%, state budget of Latvia – 25.
