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Introducing our organisation
SIETAR, the Society for
Intercultural Education, Training and Research
is the world's largest interdisciplinary network
for professionals working in the intercultural
field. The network was originally established
in 1974 and now includes over 3,000 interculturalists
and 15 national and regional groups world-wide.
Various SIETAR groups hold NGO status at the United
Nations or are recognized by the Council of Europe.
Membership is drawn from individuals active in
arts, business, consulting and training, migration
and development aid, education and research, government,
health services, language services, NGOs, minority
advocates, public service, research, and social
work.
SIETAR Europa was founded
in 1991 and is part of the international SIETAR
network. It is a pan-European, not-for-profit
organization of professional intercultural workers
and includes members from all European countries,
the Middle East and Africa. Local SIETAR groups
flourish in Germany, France, The Netherlands,
Austria and Spain, and others are in formation.
SIETAR works to make people more aware of how
culture affects education, policy-making, and
business. We help people communicate across their
differences and provide expert information and
assistance in intercultural issues. We work to
develop quality standards and ethical norms for
intercultural work and promote exchange of ideas
and experience in the intercultural field.
The purpose of SIETAR
is to encourage the development and application
of knowledge, values and skills which enable effective
intercultural and interethnic relations at individual,
group, organization and community levels. As such
it assists the creation of intercultural competence
through paper and online publications, educational
events, regional meetings and congresses, as well
as professional networking and information sharing
worldwide. Besides our office
hub information centre currently located in
France we provide an online documentation centre,
newsletters, workspaces and e-learning programs
for our members and the public on this site. Currently
a new online quarterly journal on critical intercultural
topics is in preparation as well as a new service,
“Journal Watch” which will alert members
to the latest publications in the field on a regular
basis. Our next major international congress will
take place in Spring 2007 in Sophia, Bulgaria.
SIETAR seeks to represent
the intercultural profession to the public and
provide the organization’s support as well
as to promote its members services to both public
and private organizations seeking intercultural
expertise and assistance. SIETAR members make
themselves available for advising governmental,
commercial, NGO & private organizations as
well as for coaching & mentoring young professionals
in the field. While SIETAR is politically unaligned
as an organization, the strong commitments of
its individual members are a part of the diversity
we respect, welcome, and encourage. Information
on membership in SIETAR Europa and the local SIETAR
groups is available on our website or through
our office.
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