The Capacity Building Office of the College of Europe in Natolin was pleased to organise a training course titled: "Intercultural/Interfaith Communication", delivered by Dr Sarah MARKIEWICZ, Senior Advisor on Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue for the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the global organisation of national parliaments.
The training equipped the students with the skills to navigate cultural and religious diversity in professional environments. With Dr MARKIEWICZ the students examined how culture, religion, and belief influence communication and behaviour in international affairs. Through a mix of interactive inputs and exercises, students learnt to recognise and address sources of misunderstanding, discuss intercultural challenges in multilateral settings, and identify effective communication strategies across differences of language, hierarchy, gender, and work culture.
The training also highlighted the importance of collaboration between policy makers and religious actors, guiding you through a practical exercise on designing dialogues that foster cooperation and mutual understanding. The session concluded with a wrap-up and outlook, encouraging reflection on how to apply these insights in future professional and multicultural contexts.
About the speaker:
Dr Sarah MARKIEWICZ is the Senior Advisor on Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue for the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the global organisation of national parliaments. Her work focuses on fostering parliamentary engagement with religion and belief for peaceful and inclusive societies.
Her previous experience spans the UN, academia and faith-based and civil society organisations across development cooperation, global governance, peacebuilding, prevention of violent extremism, human rights, gender equality and youth empowerment. She has lived and worked in Europe, the Middle East and North America.
Dr MARKIEWICZ holds a Doctor of theology. She has completed additional training in freedom of religion or belief, systemic conflict analysis, systems thinking, "Do No Harm", and mediation.
Photo credit: www.globethics.net