Antoinette Lao | MSc Student | Cyber Security Management
What is your name, subject and year of study?
My name is Antoinette Lao and I studied Cyber Security Management MSc between 2024-2025.
What drew you to the intercultural training programme in the first place (as facilitator/as student or both)? / Why was it important to you?
I was drawn to the intercultural training programme due to the opportunity to further explore human behaviours and attitudes from a cultural perspective. The overall structure of the program highlighted various chances to engage in discussions to reflect on cultural and personal values alongside interactive activities to enhance teamworking capabilities in diverse groups. Participating in the workshops was important to me as I wanted to make more connections with individuals from different cultural backgrounds and further develop transferable skills which could be applied outside of the university setting.
How has Warwick’s intercultural training programme helped or supported you (as facilitator/as student or both)?
The intercultural workshops has supported me in developing confidence in communication which in turn has helped me to adapt and reduce potential misunderstandings when expressing oneself and when listening to others. In particular, the intercultural games workshop included collaborative problem solving and simulation exercises which fostered adaptability. Alternatively, the intercultural competence workshop replicated an interview scenario which supported personal reflection - providing the opportunity to practice the STAR methodology and receive feedback from peers.
What was the most memorable or important thing you learned from the intercultural training programme (as facilitator/as student or both)?
One of my most memorable experiences of the intercultural training programme would be part of the intercultural game workshop where the attendees were split into two groups and given different instructions regarding how to greet one another. After both groups had reconvened and interacted following the assigned instructions, it revealed a sense of uncertainty due to the varying behaviours and actions between the two groups. This underscored how awareness and the understanding of different backgrounds, beliefs and cultures is essential for reducing personal biases and confusion. Furthermore, the simulation exercise allowed me to reflect on how misunderstandings could stem from simple actions or slight shifts in tone. Consequently, as a native English speaker, I found that this exercise helped me become more self-aware when communicating as it contextualised how language differences could also lead to misinterpretations of meaning and expression from both sides.
How has the training helped you navigate life as a student at Warwick / your career?
The intercultural training supported my ability to build stronger and more diverse connections, which in turn has allowed me to experience and learn more about different cultures. It has also encouraged me to attend events available on campus which celebrate different cultural festivities - helping me appreciate and value the beliefs of different cultures. Furthermore, the workshops gave valuable insights towards collaboration which assisted how I approached group projects in my course.
Why should other students get involved with the programme (as facilitator/as student or both)?
This programme provides an opportunity to explore various cultural perspectives in an inclusive and interactive environment. The sessions I attended were incredibly informative and worthwhile for fostering transferable skills that can assist your personal and professional development. In particular, I would highly recommend the intercultural competence workshop as it enabled personal reflections which could be applied when preparing for interviews – allowing meaningful feedback from individuals with differing experiences.