On December 7, the first Sensitivity Training was hosted by the KAIST International Student Association (KISA). The event aimed to open a space in which international and Korean students could understand better each other’s culture and differences. The KAIST Herald interviewed Talha Liaqat, one of the organizers of the event, for further information.

Could you briefly introduce yourself?
Hello, my name is Talha Liaqat. I am a Master’s student from Pakistan enrolled in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. This is my first semester at KAIST, and I am also one of the cabinet members of KISA, which I find to be very rewarding work since I can express my own culture and learn about other countries’ cultures too.

What is Sensitivity Training and how was it organized?
Sensitivity Training is a platform designed to provide an open channel between international and Korean students. It started with a talk from Dr. In Shik Bang, who is the student advisor at the Office of Advising and Support for International Students, and discussing topics on cultural differences that later were mainly brought up by the participating students.

How did KISA come up with this idea?
We are the new ones into the Korean culture. It would be not only helpful for us to learn about their culture, but also invaluable for them to learn some aspects of other cultures too. So we decided to host such activity experimentally.

Is this a “one of a kind” event, or is some continuity expected?
This is just the first session. KISA expects to have several sessions throughout the year. Of course, this first session focused mainly on the general topics of cultural differences. The feedback we get will help us to understand areas that require improvement. And perhaps on the next programs, we will focus on those areas individually, so that we can improve our mutual understandings and bring both communities closer together.

How often are you planning to host the Sensitivity Training sessions?
Initially our idea is to host it on a bimonthly basis, but only during the regular terms. That is so because most of the Korean and international students are on campus during those periods. Another possibility is to do it once a month, depending on the number of topics and the size of the audience.

Since this is an event that expects many Korean participants, how did you promote the Training among the Korean community?
We did several promotional activities. We posted on different student websites, sent e-mails, and talked to them one-on-one, explaining to them what the session would be about and demonstrating how it would a good opportunity for them to learn about other people too.

Have you worked together with other student associations?
We haven’t contacted other student organizations yet. It is our plan to first observe the way the session worked and, together with the feedback from the participants, draw a plan on how to improve Sensitivity Training and proceed to contact other student organizations for support for the next events.

It is interesting that KISA is working towards minimizing conflicts between cultures. However, do you think there is any need to run some sensitivity training among the international students themselves too?
I don’t think so. We already have several programs, such as the International Food Festival, International Sports Festival, and KAIST ONE, which already offer a good platform for the international students. In those events, every individual has the opportunity to express their culture and their habits, and thus, a better understanding of their differences.

Are those activities composed only of international students?
Not exactly; our regular activities are welcome to Koreans too! Contrary to popular belief, the international events are also designed to host Korean students as well. For example, the International Food Festival is getting more local participation throughout the years. Also, the International Sports Festival this year had many Koreans joining different sports, which was a great achievement for us.

Do you have any last words for people who are interested in Sensitivity Training?
Please come and join us! This platform will definitely help all of us to better understand our differences, and it can bring us closer. It will help you too, since you will have the opportunity to discuss topics perhaps you are unable to talk about in your lab or other places. You can come and share your opinion with the international community, as well as with the Korean community.

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