Learning Outcomes:

• Issues and theoretical constructs: meta/theoretical perspective e.g. critical,  interpretive, social science; research context e.g. face to face, mediated; focus, e.g. intracultural, cross cultural, intercultural; target cultural group. 
• Approaches: methods/procedures to overcome  particular communication challenges e.g. those  with learning difficulties, hearing impaired,  visually impaired, English as a second language; use of feedback skills to facilitate communication and workplace. 
• Relationships; persuasion and negotiation skills appropriate to different situations and people.
• Barriers to effective communication: Hall’s  (1976) conception of high and low context  cultures; Hofstede’s (2001) five dimensions of  cultural values; avoidance and Confucian  dynamism; relate to own cultural identities and  backgrounds.
• Influences: cultural and religious beliefs;  education; class structure; and social priorities  in education.
• Interaction: stereotyping from a cognitive  perspective; how stereotypes hamper face-to face contact with others; own levels of ethnocentrism using Neuliep and McCroskey’s (1997) GENE scale.
• Implications: ‘culture shock’ seen as a period of  adaptation in relation to different styles and  approaches used in education and training, relevance of the communication cycle for  effective communication; selecting an appropriate tone, language, and level of formality; sequenced delivery linked to assessment; skills development; integrated  approach; e-learning; distance or blended  approach; staffing; adapting language; recognising and addressing barriers; engaging  learners in own communication.

Indicative Reading list 

• Bhatia, V.K. (1993). Analysing genre: Language use in professional settings. London: Longman 
• Bennett, M. J. (2013). Basic concepts of intercultural communication. Paradigms, principles and practices (2nd ed.). Boston: Intercultural Press Connor, U. (1996). Contrastive rhetoric. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 
• Connor, U., Nagelhout, E., & Rozycki, W. (Eds.). (2008). Contrastive rhetoric: Reaching to intercultural rhetoric. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Hyland, K. (2004). Genre and second language writing. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press 
• Jandt, F. E. (2009). An introduction to intercultural communication: Identities in a global community (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Neuliep, J. W. (2014). Intercultural communication: A contextual approach (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks. CA: Sage 
• Samovar, L. A., & Porter, R. E. (Eds.). (2003). Intercultural communication: A reader (10th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth Swales, J. (2008). Research genres: Explorations and applications. Cambridge: CUP

Website Links 

• www.Dylanwiliam.net (Dylan Wiliam, professional development materials) 
• www.crll.org.uk (Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning) 
• www.excellencegateway.org.uk (Excellence Gateway)  
• www.infed.org (Informal education) 
• www.geoffpetty.com (Geoff Petty, on-line teaching resources) 
• www.ofsted.gov.uk (Office for Standards in Education) 
• https://set.et-foundation.co.uk/ (Society for Education and Training)

Entry requirements

To enroll The Master Award, the learner must possess:

• Graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or achieved a Level 6 Diploma according to the European Qualifications
• For a degree from non-global accredited universities; The learner should have followed Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Qualifications (APELQ) policy of SIMI and/or University Partners.
• Learners must be over 21 years old.

The SIMI Swiss reserves the highest decision-making power for admission whether to accept or not accept after a specific review of each candidate’s profile to ensure that they can comprehend and gain benefits when participating. For the fake university or diploma mills, University Partners shall not be accepted.

English requirements

If a learner is not from a predominantly English-speaking country, proof of English language proficiency must be provided.

• Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B2 or equivalent
• Or A minimum TOEFL score of 101 or IELTS 6.5; Reading and Writing must be at 6.5 or equivalent

After graduating with Master Award, students receive all certified documents from the SIMI Swiss.

Certified Documents:

• e-Certificate from the Swiss Information and Management Institute (SIMI Swiss).
• Hard copy certificate from the Swiss Information and Management Institute (SIMI Swiss) – Optional.
•  Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Qualifications (APEL.Q) certified from University Partners for credit and tuition fee transfer.

Because the program is accredited and recognized, students can easily use certified in the working environment and have many opportunities for career advancement. In addition, in case if you want to study for a SIMI degree or university partner degree, students can convert all credits and the full paid tuition fee when participating in the program University Partners.

The SIMI Swiss‘ Master Award means:

SIMI Swiss Master Award is the award at the master’s level and is equivalent to:

• Level 7 certificate of Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) of UK
• Level 10 certificate of Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
• Level 7 certificate of Credit and Qualifications Framework (CQFW)
• Level 7 certificate of European Qualifications Framework (EQF)
• Level 9 certificates of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
• Level 7 certificate of ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF)
• Level 9 certificate of the African Continental Qualifications Framework (ACQF)

Students can convert all credits and the full tuition fee when participating in the SIMI Swiss and/or University Partners academic programs if they want to study for an academic degree.

Credits transfer:

Learners can accumulate 20 credits from the Master Award program when participating in the Master of Art in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL). Please see the credit transfer policy HERE

Tuition fee transfer:

When participating in the MATESOL program, students who have graduated 1 Master Award will receive a discount of full tuition fee which you paid. Please see the tuition fee transfer HERE

The SIMI Swiss micro-credential program allows for the transfer of credits and tuition fees into full degree programs from SIMI Swiss and/or its university partners. SIMI Swiss reserves the right to limit admissions once the number of students exceeds the quotas.

Apply Policy:

• To participate in the SIMI Swiss micro-credential program, students need to meet the entry criteria corresponding to each level. Please see the “Entry” tab for more details.
• SIMI Swiss will not accept applicants if their entry qualifications are from diploma mill universities or schools/universities that are not accredited.
• For Master Award programs, if an entry bachelor is unavailable, students must demonstrate a minimum of 5 years of work experience in the relevant field. Please note that a bachelor’s degree is required for the Master’s program at SIMI Swiss and University Partners so that you could study Master Award but could not move to the Master’s program of SIMI and University Partners.
• English is not a mandatory entry requirement for short course programs, but candidates need to ensure that English is used in reading documents, listening to lectures, and doing assignments. Candidates should note that English is a mandatory requirement when switching to an academic program at SIMI Swiss and University Partners.

Apply Process:

1. Choose the program that suits your requirements. Note that applicants without a university degree will not be able to participate in the program at Master’s level, and applicants without a Master’s degree will not be able to participate in the program at the Doctoral level.
2. Email your application to support@simiswiss.ch with all the required documents. You could download the application form here.
3. Our admission department will contact you and guide you through further processes if the registration documents need to be supplemented.
4. SIMI Swiss will issue the Letter of Acceptant (LOA). You will proceed to the next steps according to the instructions and pay tuition fee.
5. SIMI Swiss will issue a student confirmation letter, login account to the e-learning system and related documents.
6. You have become an official SIMI Swiss student and enjoy your study journey.

The SIMI Swiss micro-credential program is fully online, allowing you to study anytime, anywhere. You have the option to attend live classes with SIMI Swiss. The final exam will be uploaded to the system and evaluated by the academic panel of SIMI Swiss. Students must submit assignments on time; failure to do so will result in the student being considered to have discontinued the program.