“Kia Ora” or “I see you” perfectly explains the goal of the ‘Collaboration through Diversity’ event held last Thursday 14 September at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, which had the pleasure of inviting Susannah Gordon, Ambassador to New Zealand Embassy The Hague Netherlands, representatives to the International Criminal Court, and COIL partners from the Auckland University of Technology to share their knowledge of cultural awareness and the dynamics of working in multicultural teams.
The event opened with a traditional Pōwhiri or Māori welcome ceremony, a first for many students, and a beautiful introduction to the Māori culture. Illustrations and experiences were shared of working in multicultural teams at the ICC, building Māori worldview into diplomacy, that students could relate to and understand cultural awareness from multiple perspectives. “The cross cultural event proved to be highly beneficial for me due to its profound impact on broadening my perspective and understanding of diverse cultures. Thanks to the invited speakers I gained insights into different customs, traditions, and world views” said a first year student attendee.
The full recording of the event (roughly 2 hours) is now available to all, courtesy of the Amsterdam School of Applied Sciences. Click here to watch it: