Cross-Cultural Communication Conference
The College of Communication and Media Sciences (CCMS) organized the 3rd Cross-Cultural Communication Conference on January 23rd and 24th, 2019 in the convention center on Zayed University’s Abu Dhabi campus. The conference was co-sponsored by Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Bournemouth University (UK), Emerson college (USA), Curtin University (Australia) and Blanquerna school of Communications (Spain). Together the six universities are providing a platform for broad scope of research in East-West cross-cultural communication adaptation and intercultural communication challenges. This year’s theme was “Cultural Identity and Diversity as Assets to Global Understanding.” Increasing globalization has led to challenges in balancing the need for cultural identity and global citizenship. Communication and media scholars discussed how cultural identity and diversity can be assets to global understanding rather than barriers. This conference promoted international collaboration and understanding among scholars reflecting the ideology behind the Year of Tolerance.
The conference hosted over 30 international scholars from Europe (Széchenyi István Egyetem, Hungary; University of Minho, Portugal; Ramon Llull University, Spain), the USA (Emerson College; Bentley University; Purdue University), Asia (COMSATS University, Pakistan; Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau, Indonesia; Mahidol University, Thailand; Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; International College of Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep, Thailand; Kwansei Gakuin University, Nishinomiya, Japan; Beaconhouse National University, Pakistan), the Middle East (Yalova University, Turkey; Zayed University;Gulf University for Science and Technology, Kuwait; Misr International University, Egypt; Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, Saudi Arabia) Africa (Stellenbosch University, South Africa) and Australia/New Zealand (Curtin University; Australia; Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand) organized in 15 different sessions (three papers per session). The sessions focused on: use of social media in different cultures; public diplomacy and government communication; rethinking culture and communication: methodological and technological challenges; marketing and culture; language, culture, and identity; intercultural competency; collaboration and technology; cultural impact on corporations and professions.
CCMS faculty were involved as chair/respondents (Alejandra Val Cubera, Russell Williams, Ganga Dhanesh, Natasa Slak Valek, Nadia Rahman) for the sessions or as moderator for the panels (Owen Bennett Jones and Alia Yunis). The conference organized sessions and panels in Arabic and English. Dr. Gaelle Duthler organized the sessions and panels in English, and Dr. Azza Ahmed organized the sessions and panels in Arabic. Dr. Gaelle Duthler was a co-organizer of this conference.
