Darla K. Deardorff
International Education Week 2024 Featured Scholar
Co-Sponsored by the URI Office of Community, Equity and Diversity and URI Global Initiatives
About Dr. Darla K. Deardorff
Dr. Darla K. Deardorff is the chairholder of the UNESCO Chair of Intercultural Competences at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and a research fellow at Duke University. She previously served 19 years as Executive Director/CEO of the Association of International Education Administrators, a leadership organization. She is also the Founding President of the World Council on Intercultural and Global Competence, a nonprofit partner to the UNESCO Chair. She has worked in the international education field for over thirty years & previously held positions at North Carolina State University & the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill where she has had experience in study abroad, international student services, cultural programming, & ESL teaching/teacher training. She has lived, taught & worked in Germany, Japan, South Africa, & Switzerland.
Additionally, she has had 2 Fulbrights- one to South Africa and one to Japan. Dr. Deardorff ‘s faculty experience includes Harvard University’s Future of Learning Institute, Harvard’s Global Education Think Tank, the Summer Institute of Intercultural Communication, Shanghai International Studies University (China), Nelson Mandela University (S. Africa) & Meiji University (Japan) as well as Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Regularly invited to speak around the world, Dr. Deardorff consults for universities, businesses, & non-profit organizations. Recent projects include advising the OECD’s PISA Global Competence Project & a UNESCO Intercultural Competence Project. She has published widely, including 80+ articles and book chapters, as well as 14 books.
Story Circles Workshops
UNESCO Story Circles works with any group of people in a wide variety of settings using little to no resources. This structured yet adaptable intercultural methodology is used to practice key intercultural competencies such as listening for understanding and are a powerful tool for promoting cross-cultural dialogue, fostering empathy and also learning about oneself. Click here for more information about story circles.
Story Circles Session Information and Registration
Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Students,Faculty and Staff may register for the sessions by visiting the link below and registering by the November 18,2024 deadline. Due to the nature of the workshop format, all participants must agree to arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the session(s) and remain for the duration of the program(s).
| Session | Audience | Time | Date | Location | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Session #1 | Students | 9:00-11:00am | November 21, 2024 | Memorial Union Ballroom | Register Here |
| Session #2 | Faculty & Staff | 11:30am-1:45pm | November 21, 2024 | Memorial Union Ballroom | Register Here |
| Session #3 | Students, Faculty, and Staff | 1:45-3:30pm | November 21, 2024 | Memorial Union Ballroom | Use previous registration link |
Story Circles Session Descriptions
IEW Story Circles Session 1: Developing Intercultural Competence through UNESCO Story Circles – A Participatory Experience for URI Students
Renowned scholar, Dr. Darla Deardorff, UNESCO Chair of Intercultural Competences at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, will facilitate a session for students to learn more about a highly successful intercultural methodology called Story Circles that has been piloted in all five UNESCO regions around the world as well as in the virtual environment. UNESCO Story Circles works with any group of people in a wide variety of settings using little to no resources. This structured yet adaptable intercultural methodology is used to practice key intercultural competencies such as listening for understanding. Learn more about this methodology as you think about how you could use this in your own contexts.
IEW Story Circles Session 2: Developing Intercultural Competence through UNESCO Story Circles – A Participatory Experience for URI Faculty and Staff
Renowned scholar, Dr. Darla Deardorff, UNESCO Chair of Intercultural Competences at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, will facilitate a session for faculty and staff to learn more about a highly successful intercultural methodology called Story Circles that has been piloted in all five UNESCO regions around the world as well as in the virtual environment. UNESCO Story Circles works with any group of people in a wide variety of settings using little to no resources. This structured yet adaptable intercultural methodology is used to practice key intercultural competencies such as listening for understanding. Learn more about this methodology as you think about how you could use this in your own contexts.
IEW Story Circles Session 3: Developing Facilitation Skills for the UNESCO Story Circles– A Workshop Experience for URI Students, Faculty and Staff
Building upon the IEW Story Circles Sessions 1 & 2, students, faculty and staff interested in developing their skillset to facilitate Story Circles will participate in a session guided by Dr. Darla Deardorff. This working session will provide time for participants to learn best practices and develop individual action plans for facilitating Story Circles. Additional time will allow for open dialogue and questions on utilizing this methodology to support the development of intercultural competence in various contexts.