Northeastern University visiting academic discusses the need for global cultural competencies
In Summary
Rick Arrowood, Northeastern University, USA, recently gave an address on developing one’s global cultural competencies at Swinburne University of Technology’s pathway partner, Nawaloka College of Higher Studies in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Mr Arrowood oversees the Nonprofit and Human Resource Management programs at Northeastern University, and also teaches in Swinburne's Global Leadership Program.
Mr Arrowood’s topic provided insights on what students could start doing today to enhance their employability and leadership potential. He challenged the students to re-cast their approaches to leadership development by re-thinking how they include relationship management, stress management, and self-management in their current educational goals and long-term career plans.
He congratulated them on taking their first important step - enrolling in Nawaloka College of Higher Studies in partnership with Swinburne University of Technology.
“I shared my view and experience that thinking patterns need to be re-engineered to include a more globally centered mindset. Those considerations can then pivot into actions. And, those actions (or learning experiences) then become a platform for exploring and experiencing cultural diversity on a global scale,” Mr Arrowood said.
“Soon-to-be degree candidates seeking employment must be equipped to demonstrate their leadership potential and capacity to prospective employers to stand out ‘from the crowd.’ It’s what potential employers demand in this 21st Century globally-connected economy.”
Mr Arrowood was invited to Nawaloka College of Higher Studies thanks to the longstanding relationship between Swinburne and Northeastern University, and Swinburne’s recently launched partnership with Nawaloka College of Higher Studies. The new partnership allows students to study a Swinburne Foundation Year or UniLink diploma in Sri Lanka and continue to a related bachelor degree at a partner university in Australia, Malaysia or USA.