Learning Intercultural Refugee Service Management in Jordan

Refugee service management is a large field in international public service. This include service agencies abroad as well as numerous nonprofits / nongovernmental organizations engaged in resettlement programs in the United States. This blog offers some of the reflections that DePaul University's School of Public Service graduate students had in their participation on the Intercultural Refugee Service Program in Jordan. In addition to studying intercultural communication in organizations in Arabic context, the refugee course examined the needs, best practices and partnership management in the organizational management and public services for refugees, returnees and internally displaced people (IDP).

Through various case studies and presentations from experienced leaders in the field from UNHCR, UNRWA, IOM and many other organizations, participants have developed or enhanced their essential management skills for an effective work in intercultural refugee services. Many of our participants have been engaged in actual work or resettlement in the Chicago areas. The organizations represented and that contributed to this program are Heartland Alliance, Catholic Charities, World Relief, Refugee One along with the participation of Dr. Edwin Silverman, Chief Bureau of Refugee and Immigrant Services (DHS).

An International Collaborative Initiative

The Intercultural Refugee Service Management Jordan Program has been designed as a collaborative effort by the International Public Service Program at DePaul, the Arabic Studies Program at DePaul, the International Human Rights Law Institute at DePaul, and the Jordanian Alliance Against Hunger. The program was created with the goal of educating participants on refugee management, the Arab culture, and the Arabic language. Its purpose is to further develop relationships with partners in Jordan so that DePaul and its students may foster a future relationship with Jordan and its organizations.

The Jordanian Alliance Against Hunger, the University of Jordan, and the Jordan University of Science and Technology have partnered with the program to ensure that the Program participants are able to maximize their time in Jordan.

The Program’s curriculum has been developed to promote these goals. The students will take the following classes to enrich their experience in Jordan:

1. Refugee Service Management: This course examines the needs of refugees, returnees, and internally displaced persons and the manner in which their needs may be met. It evaluates the best practices in refugee management and partnership management for organizations dealing with these populations. The class is taught through various case studies and presentations from experienced leaders. The participants will develop essential management skills for effectively working with intercultural refugee services.
2. Intercultural Communication in Organizations: This course focuses on providing the necessary conceptual foundation and practical awareness to build and maintain positive inter-personal and inter-organization communication across cultures with a focus on Arab culture and Jordan. The class is taught through readings, discussions, field visits, and presentations by leaders and practitioners. The participants will develop significant knowledge of the Arab culture and the culture of Arab service organizations, awareness of the role of cross-cultural competency in individual and organizational effectiveness, and the skills needed to function effectively in multicultural settings.
3. Arabic Immersion: This is an opportunity for participants to learn basic Arabic conversation. Along the program and through various methods of language instruction to ensure that the participants are able to hold basic conversations in Arabic. The participants will then have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Jordan to develop and practice their language skills.
   

The Program is Supported by:

The Master of Science in International Public Service Program at DePaul combines a truly international and diverse student body, faculty members from six different countries, a robust study abroad program, and a rich curriculum to give students the opportunity to study and work for international organizations in the United States and overseas. The students have training in a second language and have complete substantial professional experience in an international or intercultural setting. They also take classes on a variety of subjects such as proposal writing, strategic planning, intercultural communications in organizations, and conflict resolution. The students experience through this Program prepares them to serve public service organizations with an international focus.

The School of Public Service at DePaul aims to prepare students for meaningful and successful careers in nonprofit organizations and government agencies. The School offers seven graduate degree programs, short-term study abroad courses in ten countries, and several academic and professional education certification programs. The mission of the School is to educate women and men to be effective public service leaders in the global community, guided by the values of St. Vincent de Paul.

The Arabic Studies Program at DePaul is designed to teach students the Arabic language as well as familiarize them with Arabic culture. It encourages students to learn Arabic to cultivate their understanding of history, develop their ability to communicate with and understand the Middle East, and enhance their ability to converse with the Arab-American population in the United States. The program offers a number of advanced language and literature classes to help fuel the students’ knowledge of the language and culture. It also offers immersion programs for both students and teachers.

The International Human Rights Law Institute at DePaul is at the forefront of contemporary human rights and rule of law research, training, and advocacy. Since its founding in 1990, IHRLI has designed and managed projects around the world on post-conflict justice, human rights documentation and analysis, capacity building for legal professionals, gender rights and human trafficking. IHRLI conducts scholarly research on international criminal law, international humanitarian law and a variety of human rights and rule of law issues. IHRLI also prepares DePaul law students, activists and scholars for careers in human rights through courses, fellowship programs, internships and research opportunities in Chicago and abroad.

The Jordanian Alliance Against Hunger is a non-profit and non-governmental organization founded in 2004 as a member of the International Alliance Against Hunger. It is based on a national partnership with the government, civil society, and private sector organizations. The Alliance is headed by Princess Basma Bint Talal and is hosted by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development. The goal of the organization is to reduce hunger in Jordan through creating a national sense of commitment to eradicate hunger, building partnerships with various governmental and non-governmental organizations to enhance the implementation of its programs, and to promote, coordinate, and assist direct assistance programs in Jordan.

Read more about the program here
http://las.depaul.edu/sps/Programs/StudyAbroad/Jordan.asp and here http://interculturalcommunication.ning.com/

The following is a video introduction on the purpose and origins of the program as explained by the Director Dr. Marco Tavanti