Conscious Response to Working in a Culturally Diverse Team
The ever-changing world has made it possible for different people across several cultures to work in the same organisation. This has increased the importance of being conscious of diverse cultural values when working in a team with different cultural backgrounds or leading a culturally diverse group. It is pertinent to note that people from different ethnic background hold dissimilar values which must be adjusted to realign with the goals of the team. However, this is a gradual process that is attainable through conscious efforts of the team members to respond to others taking into cognizance their differences. According to Azzopardi and McNeill (2016), conscious response in team increases performance, foster collaboration and reduces misunderstanding among team members with different beliefs and values. In this view, Curtis et al. (2020) and Kurtis and Ullah (2019), stated that the ability to be aware and conscious of different cultural background among team members is the key factor in managing business teams for more productivity and competitiveness. This suggests that both team leaders and members’ consciousness in their response to cultural issues determine the performance of the team. Enveloping conscious response to a culturally diverse team is cultural competence which is not simply learnt in the classroom. Instead, just as it is the case with most diversity issues in the workplace, cultural competence necessitates one to examine his own opinions, thoughts, ideas, and feelings, then work on developing his own cross-cultural skills necessary for excelling in the team or such culturally diverse workplace. The diversity in the-present-day’s workplace implies that a team member must be more sensitive to the cultures of others in the team, and in the same way, people from other cultures must reciprocate similar sensitivity. Some of the important skills worthy to be learnt include learning how to communicate clearly so as to avoid being misunderstood. Many conflicts arise in teams due to miscommunication and misunderstanding. Team members, who are of different cultural backgrounds, often have dissimilar styles of verbal and non-verbal communication (Shonk, 2020). For instance, in some cultures, a bow instead of a handshake is used to exchange greetings. In other cultures, to maintain direct eye contact while exchange greetings may be considered impolite, meanwhile in other cultures it signifies honesty and trust. In verbal communication, some cultures may regard a direct statement to a superior as disrespectful while other cultures may consider it a sign of efficiency and expediency. Therefore, the bottom-line remains a conscious response to issues while working in a culturally diverse team. It is recommended that team members of culturally diverse teams should spend time to do more research and findings about the cultures of those who comprise the team. This according to Anam (2020) is useful having awareness and understanding about the verbal and physical communication cues that vary from one’s own culture. One cannot effectively function in a culturally diverse team except he or she possesses a reasonable level of cultural awareness. As a result, there can be reinforcement in the strength of the team and team members are more likely to build skills that enhance their chances of becoming global professionals. References Anam, A. (2020), Culture awareness in the workplace. Small Business Chron. https://smallbusiness.chron.com/culture-awareness-workplace-737.html Azzopardi, C. & McNeill, T. (2016) From Cultural competence to cultural consciousness: Transitioning to a critical approach to working across differences in social work. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work 25(4) 282-299. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2016.1206494 Curtis, E., Jones, R., Tipene-Leach, D., Walker, C., Loring, B., Paine, S. & Reid, P. (2019) Why cultural safety rather than cultural competency is required to achieve health equity: a literature review and recommended definition. International Journal of Equity in Health 18 (1), 1-18 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-1082-3 Kurtisi, H. & Ullah, A. (2019). How does cultural diversity affect the management of warehouse staff? Specifically, what processes are available to balance diversity and integrate human resources. (Unpublished undergraduate dissertation). Jönköping University. https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1323940/FULLTEXT01.pdf Shonk. K. (2020). How to resolve cultural conflict: Overcoming cultural barriers at the negotiation table. Harvard Programmeme on Negotiation, Daily Blog. https://www.pon.harvard.edu/daily/conflict-resolution/a-cross-cultural-negotiation-example-how-to-overcome-cultural-barriers/ Mr. James Terkura Ihum is working at Skyline University Nigeria as a Lecturer II in the Department of Economics You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria
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Renowned Photographer Trains Members of the Students’ Arts & Photography Club
A renowned Photographer, Mr. Sanjay Dutt Sharma, a passionate photographer with a strong inclination towards wildlife and birds, in collaboration with Skyline University Nigeria has trained members of the university’s Student Arts and Photography Club. The training with the theme “Bird watching and Photography” was held virtually on 17th July 2021, to show the importance of having a carrier in photography, how the cameras work, and what 21st Century photographers must know. Mr. Sanjay, who stated that photography is a rewarding and satisfying hobby for millions of enthusiasts worldwide, explained the basics of light and how the eye fixes lighting, how to get the camera to catch what the eye sees, explained aperture in photography that controls the amount of light that can enter the camera, shutter speed, settings, exposure and exposure triangle in the foundation of photography and how to compute great pictures. He defined bird-watching photography as the art of capturing individual bird as a representative of its species. Mr. Sanjay added that bird photography is a special photography skill that allows a photographer to watch the behaviors of the birds while anticipating what the bird will do next. Regarding his experience in bird photography, he advised the students to prepare themselves to invest in solid cameras with one or more long telephoto lenses. “Being able to capture birds from a long distance without distracting them is a major part of bird photography”, he stated. Earlier in her remarks, a Lecturer II in the Department of Micro-Biology and the Coordinator of the Arts and Photography Club, Ms. Jyoti Rajwal stated that the training was in line with the mission that led to the establishment of the Club, to nurture young talent with creativity and skills as well as increasing their problem-solving skills. She appreciated the Guest speaker and trainer for making out time to attend the event, amidst his busy work schedule to the benefit of the students. The Vice-Chancellor of Skyline University Nigeria, Professor Ajith Kumar V.V enjoined the students to pay close attention to the training as it will greatly benefit them and contribute to helping them gain additional skills in the field of photography. He appreciated the members of the Students Service Department for anchoring the event, while noting that the training was an opportunity for the students to learn from the experience of the experts in the field.
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Work-life Balance, Good Health, Happiness and Wellness, others Propel Working Women to Success – Facilitators
Members of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Kano state, during the recently held Work-life Balance, Good Health, Happiness, and Wellness seminar, organized by Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) have been advised to see themselves more as professionals, rather than working woman. The seminar which was held on 8th July 2021, was held in the university SUN campus to honour the achievements of Hon. Commissioner of Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Zahra’u Muhammad Umar as well as to help women harness necessary skills that will led to a balanced and happy life. Keynote speakers, the university’s Director of Academic Support Services – Ms. Sarada Maganti, and a Lecturer II in the Department of Microbiology, Ms. Jyoti Rajwal all made vital contributions to the overall success of the event. While making her presentation on the theme of the seminar, Ms. Jyoti, charged women to embrace the reality of the digital world, to strike a balance between work and home life. According to her, the level of prioritization between personal and professional activities in an individual’s life and the level to which activities related to their job are present in the home describes the concept of work-life balance. She also noted that certain obstacles that had continually affected the success of women in striking balance in work-life across the world, remained the same, such as the demands that work and life throw at us, lack of control, unsupportive relationships, high-stress levels, etc. She, however, noted that these obstacles were surmountable through knowledge acquisition, of every work environment, stating that time management and prioritization of tasks, amongst others, are solutions to managing a healthy work-life balance. Ms. Maganti who shared some work-life balance tips to the women advised them to take more time to rejuvenate, let go of fear, express gratitude for what they have, learn to say no, create some time in a day to think and relax and create an environment of fun while they pursue their carrier. She however stated that though it may be difficult, it’s possible with the right applications. Earlier on, in his welcome remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Skyline University Nigeria, stated that there is no substitute for teamwork and trust for one to be career successful”. He added further that teamwork and trust are two key elements in the workplace that will help individuals in their professional and personal life and get their job done faster.
Writing Winning CVs, Launchpad to Rewarding Career – Vice-Chancellor
The Vice-Chancellor of Skyline University Nigeria (SUN), Professor Ajith Kumar VV, making his presentation at the Professional Skills Development Programme (PSDP) of the university, organized for 300 level students looking to join the job market has enlightened students that writing winning Curriculum Vitae (CVs), is Launchpad to a rewarding career. He said this much on 7th July 2021. While making his presentation, “CV writing and interview skills”, the Vice-Chancellor stated that “As a graduate who is set to enter the job market, you don’t have to let the lack of work experience put you off in applying for a role where otherwise you meet most of their requirements. You rather have to make the most of your other qualities such as your skills, attitude, enthusiasm, and potential”. He advised the students to take advantage of their SIWES experience, voluntary or community involvement, or work placements, to highlight their suitability. He stated that in today’s world, one couldn’t have a rewarding career without first writing a winning CV that is convincing to convene desirable personality traits. “Just writing that you are enthusiastic or motivated without given supportive details is not enough”. He charged the students to show resourcefulness and determination such as the ability to work in a team, having organizational or communications skills. The Vice-Chancellor who highlighted the common interview skills, such as background research, politeness, body language, review of CV before an interview, preparation for standard questions, prepare for questions, punctuality, etc encouraged the students to imagine the endless opportunities on offer in the workplace. He advised them to study hard and strive to emerge the best they could be in any workplace they find themselves in. In his concluding remarks, he stated that a Winning CV should start with the name, address, and contact details, introduction, a summary of skills, highlight of relevant experience and achievements, list of training and education, interest and hobbies as well as reference.
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Skyline University Nigeria Receives the ‘Wakilin Mutanen China’, of Kano State
‘Wakilin Mutanen China’, Mr. Mike Zhang of Kano State, being accompanied by the Adviser to the Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Guanglei Zhang and Mr. William Wang, has paid a courtesy call to the office of the Vice-Chancellor of Skyline University Nigeria, Professor Ajith Kumar V.V. Speaking on the purpose of his team visit, Mr. Zhang expressed his preparedness to establish coordination of staff and students exchange between Skyline University Nigeria and Shaoxing University and the people of China. He gave this brief amongst others on Tuesday 7th July 2021, while expressing his support for the facilitation of the SUN Centre for Continuous Learning, most especially in the teaching of the Chinees language. “Learning Chinese Language will give access to communicate with many people and connect on a deeper level, not just in Asia but across the world” he added. The Vice-Chancellor of Skyline University Nigeria, Professor Ajith Kumar V.V in his remarks, stated that he has heard so much about the Chinese educational system which will be an advantage to the students’ development, especially in terms of acquiring international language. He appreciated the visitors for finding time to visit the university, whose doors, according to him, are always opened for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Other members of SUN management who made contributions in the meeting were the University Registrar, Mr. Haruna Aliyu, and the Corporate Affairs Supervisor, Mr. Saka Shehu.
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Skyline University Nigeria’s Library (SUNL) Holds International Librarians’ Webinar
Part of the mandate to improve digital library opportunities and awareness in the global platform, to increase consumer education around information and resources as well as to develop community partnerships, the libraries of Skyline University Nigeria (SUN), Skyline University College (SUC), Sharjah in Collaboration with African Library & Information Associations & Institutions (AFLIA), and National Digital Library of India (NDLI) has organized an International Librarians’ Webinar with the theme ‘Digital Resources Management in the 21st Century’. The Webinar which took place on 6th July 2021 was organized to serve as a platform for Library and Information Service Professionals to learn and share insights about the industry and to contribute to the overall improvement of the usage and impact of the library system. Keynote speakers includes; Former Director of Computer Science Engineering – IIT Kharagpur, Prof. Partha Pratim Chakrabarti, the Joint Principal Investigator – NDLI, Prof. Partha Pratim Das, the Chief Strategic & Outreach Officer – NDLI, Dr. Vignesh Sornamohan and the Director of Human Capacity Development & Training; African Library & Information Associations & Institutions (AfLIA), Dr. Nkem E. Osuigwe. According to the first Keynote speakers and Principal Investigator of the NDLI, Prof. Partha Pratim Chakrabarti, who spoke on ‘Access to Knowledge Resources in the 21st Century: Vision of a Digital Library’, “The live webinar would give direct access to information resources, both digital and non-digital, in a structured and authoritative manner and thus to link information technology, education and culture in contemporary library service”. Contribution from other speakers includes Prof. Das who shared important details on the overview of NDLI and Its relevance for Africa, equally, Dr. Vignesh discussed how to access the resources of NDLI while Dr. Nkem redefined librarianship in Africa in line with 21st Century information sector realities, and other participants from across the globe. Earlier, while giving his opening remarks,Vice-Chancellor of Skyline University College, Professor Mohammed Inairat, welcomed participants to the Webinar. He stated that digital library has been a focal point for academic progression and the National Digital Library of India has gone a long way to strengthen relationship through building a solid partnership with renowned libraries all over the world. He commended the quality of leadership and administrative governance which has impacted the lives of library users to rethink how to work to create a higher impact in the future of library usage. The Head Librarian of SUN and one of the convener of the webinar, Mr. Kabiru Danladi Garba, acting on behalf of the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ajith Kumar V.V, appreciated the efforts and dedication of the host presenters as well as the organizing comittee of the webinar for makiing the event a grand success. The event had in attendance, over 217 participants cutting across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, including some high-profile dignitaries from both Government and Private sectors as well as Universities.
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Leadership in the Era of Technological Disruption
Leadership exists to direct people working in organizations towards achieving their goals in line with the mission and vision of the organization. COVID19 has affected the majority of employees across the globe in one way or the other and organizations have changed their HR policies to accommodate practices such as work from home and started giving more importance to the wellbeing of employees. Organizations have successfully adopted new technologies to overcome the situation and trained employees on using them. In this context, all leaders need to be aware of the latest emerging technologies and how they can be used in their respective organizations. One important challenge that all leaders face in the current situation is to decide on the emerging technologies that can be used to make the organization ready for future requirements. An ideal leader in this era of technological disruptions is one who is driven by a compelling vison and who foresees how the new emerging technologies will impact and how the organization can change and adapt to the new trends to survive. Training employees and making them align their personal goals with organizational goals is crucial. The lower the gap between individual and organizational goals the easier it is for the organization to create a culture of belongingness and build high-performing teams. Leaders have to play the role of accelerators to motivate people to go beyond their jobs and put in their hundred percent efforts to achieve organizational goals. Leaders should not look for perfection but look for employees with a positive attitude, willingness to learn, being adaptable as per the requirements of the organization and willing to complete the tasks as per the timelines. Leaders should focus on creating a culture where employees feel a sense of ownership which will help them in not only gaining recognition and rewards but also helps in attracting the right talent as per organizational requirements. Leaders also need to be creative and innovative and ensure that organizations are ready to face the challenges of the future. Achievement of organizational goals is the key metric to evaluate the performance of a leader. A good leader will embrace change, act as a mentor to identify and develop leaders for future requirements. Leaders in the new millennium have to give time for creativity and need to be up-to-date on the latest technological advancements that are happening in their respective fields. One more challenge for leaders is to balance the traditional style of management and a new way of handling millennials as both of them are required for achieving the goals. The traditional managers have rich experience and the millennials are good with technology and the combination of both will help the organization in planning appropriate strategies and taking the organization to the next level. Good communication among the team members, trust, human connection, and knowledge of how the latest technologies can impact work is very important in the era of technological disruption. Leaders have to be role models and lead by example. References: Bennis, W. G., & Thomas, R. J. (2020). Crucibles of leadership. Harvard business review, 80. Cortellazzo, L., Bruni, E., & Zampieri, R. (2019). The role of leadership in a digitalized world: A review. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 1938. Mukherjee, A. S. (2020). 5 Musts for Next-Gen Leaders. MIT Sloan Management Review, 61(3), 1-4. Professor Ajith Kumar V.V, is the sitting Vice-Chancellor of Skyline University Nigeria. He has obtained his PhD in the area of Human Resource Management from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. You can join the conversation on Facebook @SkylineUniversityNG and on Twitter @SkylineUNigeria
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Skyline University Nigeria Hosts Students of Intercontinental College on Changing Gear and Campus Tour
To give opportunity to prospective students looking to gain admission into Skyline University Nigeria (SUN), to explore SUN campus and learn about the academic experience, campus landmarks, residential life, dining and the SUN history and traditions as well as what lecture in the university feels like, the University has organize a ‘Changing Gear’ Seminar and campus tour for the Students of Intercontinental College Kano. The Seminar which was organized on 30th June, 2021 provided a glimpse of the university’s beautiful campus and allowed students to connect with faculty members. Ms. Jyoti Rajwar who spoke on the theme of the seminar, “waste management and future career opportunities”, stated that while waste management is a concern for many, researchers have found an opportunity in it. “The conversion of waste to energy is the most up-and-coming opportunity”. She stated. Ms. Jyoti who defined waste management to includes the activities and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal, added that thermal technologies and biological technologies have offered a breakthrough in this area. She stated that in the future, waste to energy would be responsible for generating biodegradable feedstock while adding that in Nigeria, there are over 90 waste management jobs on demand. The University Registrar, Mr. Haruna Aliyu, while giving his remarks, appreciated the students participation in the seminar, which he stated, was organized to prepare them for the life in the university. “There are diverse waste management career opportunities amongst others, this kind of seminar will help you look into the various careers relating to your choosen course of study”. He advised. The Changing Gear event was organized by the Marketing Department of Skyline University Nigeria, and Anchored by the Director of Academic Support Service (DASS), Ms. Sarada Maganti. The Event ended with a tour of the university’s Campus.
Students of Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) Paid Industrial Visit to the Gidan Makama Museum, Kano State
Skyline University Nigeria (SUN), In a bid to assert its mission of learning driven by technology, which is to nurture creativity and the spirit of entrepreneurship for all its stakeholders has engaged 100 level students of International Relations and Mass Communication on an Industrial visit to the Gidan Makama Museum, Kano State. The visit was a very impactful experience for the students, who had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the history of Northern Nigeria in terms of its rich cultural heritage. The students being led by Dr. Olumide Abraham Ajayi, a lecturer in the School of Art, Management and Social Science, and Mr. Saka Shehu, the Corporate Affair Supervisor, arrived at the Museum on 29th June 2021, for practical exposure and an understanding of the nature and character of Pre-colonial/Colonial Government amongst Nigeria rulers. The museum is divided into 11 galleries, each with its centre of focus. The main entrance hall with displays of traditional materials, city walls, and maps of Kano, the history of statehood, Kano in the 19th century, the Civil War, economy, industry, and music. Mr. Saad Uba Kwali, the Senior Museum Education Officer, while receiving the visiting team from SUN, explained the vision of the Kano Gidan Makama Museum. He stated that it was constructed in the 15th century with a significant amount of collections of arts, crafts, and items of historic interest related to the Kano area and is recognized as a National Monument by the Government of Nigeria. While speaking about the importance of the visit, Dr. Ajayi stated that it was planned to help get the students excited about course subjects and to expand their knowledge of real-world problems outside classes. “We want to encourage as many connections to the real world as possible, that will provide additional context and clarity in the subject taught. Industrial Visits are peculiar with studies as faculty members regularly encouraged them. The students visited the different sections within the museum and enjoyed it.