IN-PERSON Prague Research & Teaching Conference
Abstract
Cultural competence, defined as “the ability to participate ethically and effectively in personal and professional intercultural settings,” involves knowing and reflecting on one’s cultural values and their implications for respectful decision-making (National Centre for Cultural Competence, n.d.). This journey requires motivation, self-awareness, and the capacity to engage in difficult self-reflection. Russell (2020) notes that we sometimes avoid challenging conversations due to a lack of readiness or understanding. These difficult realisations about oneself in relation to systems of oppression, such as racism and privilege, are central to our research. Human involvement in cultural competence can cause emotional distress, as individuals may hold back questions or ideas out of fear of embarrassment or causing harm. Our research explores how trained Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) could mitigate harm from individuals expressing biases (e.g., racism, sexism, ageism). Unlike existing literature focusing on AI content improvement, our study focuses on enhancing human cultural competence using GAI. We aim to develop and evaluate a Generative AI tool that employs the Socratic method to help users explore cultural competence concepts and potentially improve their understanding. Our research question investigates the effectiveness of this tool in mitigating the initial challenges of human involvement in cultural competence training. By providing opportunities to discuss sensitive issues with a non-human entity, this research seeks to offer insights into using generative AI to facilitate the early stages of cultural competence development. References: National Centre for Cultural Competence (n.d.). What is cultural competence? Retrieved from https://www.sydney.edu.au/nccc/about-us/what-is-cultural-competence.html; Russell, G. (2020). Reflecting on a Way of Being: Anchor Principles of Cultural Competence. In: Frawley, J., Russell, G., Sherwood, J. (eds) Cultural Com
Dr. McHugh is an Academic Facilitator at the National Centre for Cultural Competence, leveraging nearly 15 years of teaching experience to promote subtle yet significant shifts in existing mindsets through her thoughtful, dynamic, and adaptable facilitation style. She is a staunch advocate of the belief that there are multiple ways of knowing, being, and doing, a perspective that is reflected in her dissertation, which reconceptualizes intercultural competence as a co-constructed and situated achievement.
Elif Sahin is the Educational Designer for the National Centre for Cultural Competence. In addition to her graduate certificate in Learning Design, Elif holds a Bachelor of Education and Master of English Studies. She is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Elif brings with her over fifteen years of teaching and course design experience to contribute to the important work of the NCCC. She is interested in combining instructional theories with innovative educational technologies to enhance the learning experience while creating culturally safe learning spaces.
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Tuesday 10th June, 2025