International skills are discussed in a lecture with a professor from Ohio State University.

Professor explains how to integrate into a new culture. 

On Thursday, May 12, 2022, ESEG – Faculdade do Grupo Etapa hosted Professor Dr. Fábio Leite, a member of the Psychology Department at Ohio State University, for a lecture on “International Competence” and how to integrate into a new culture. The author of the book “A long way from Bitingui: a journey within the Americas” shared with ESEG and Colégio Etapa students his experience studying and living abroad and how it was to adapt to a culture different from his own.

Fábio recounts that, during his time as an exchange student and living with other students of different nationalities, he noticed a difference in the students who adapted more easily to the new reality: they sought to understand the culture in which they were immersed instead of making comparisons with that of their origin.

Referencing the research of Dr. Darla K. Deardorff, the professor establishes that certain individual attitudes, such as having an open mind, respect, curiosity, observation, attentiveness, and empathy, are essential for a good adaptation to a new culture. According to him, it is from these attitudes that one can develop the ability to interact with new people and, thus, create healthy bonds in a previously unknown environment.

Fábio adds that these tips also work for a more immediate reality, such as moving to a new work environment with a different and diverse team. For him, self-awareness, confidence, and resilience are necessary to actively integrate into a new reality, and however challenging it may be, the results are worth it.

At the end of the lecture, a question-and-answer session was held in which the professor could answer students' questions about life abroad and, in general, how to integrate into a new professional and personal context.