Student Information Sessions and Workshops

from €600*

Delivered as a half day (3 hours) workshop for up to 20 attendees.**

Can be adapted to a shorter information session and to accommodate larger numbers. Get in touch at training@icosirl.ie for more information.

*This is the reduced basic rate for institutions that are members of ICOS. The cost for non-members will be higher. ICOS also invoices for standard expenses for in-person sessions. Training equipment, venue and refreshments should be provided by the institution.

**Where a session is in excess of the maximum numbers, delivery may take place across two sessions, or a different rate may apply.

All students, both international and domestic, at any stage in their studies.

This session is designed to introduce issues of cultural awareness. Participants are encouraged to explore their own assumptions and preconceptions about other cultures, as well as creating awareness of their own cultural heritage and how it affects their world views, values and assumptions. The session also encourages participants to focus on their communication style, and how it is affected by culture, as well as the importance of non-verbal communication signals and the way these affect the communication process.

The workshop-style sessions work well for class groups to encourage understanding and integration as well as providing an early ‘ice-breaker’ for students to get to know each other.

These workshops can also be tailored to suit the needs of specific student groups, such as students preparing for a year of study abroad, as well as student volunteers. For student volunteer groups, the relevance of cross-cultural awareness is set out in the Comhlámh Volunteer Charter in the context of responsible volunteer behaviour.

To increase cultural awareness, and to foster better interactions and communication between everyone on the college campus.

• Define key terms relating to 'culture' and apply this knowledge to discuss cultural difference in a positive way
• Identify the cultural values that cause cultural differences
• Understand how awareness about other cultures and cultural differences can improve interactions in a multicultural environment
• Understand how culture affects communication
• Identify barriers to effective intercultural communication
• Understand the importance of verbal and non-verbal behaviour when communicating across cultures.

from €300*

1-1.5 hour session delivered to up to 99 students.**

*This is the reduced basic rate for institutions that are members of ICOS. The cost for non-members will be higher. ICOS also invoices for standard expenses for in-person sessions. Training equipment, venue and refreshments should be provided by the institution.

**Where a session is in excess of the maximum numbers, delivery may take place across two sessions, or a different rate may apply.

International students newly arrived in, or about to depart for, Ireland. The session is also suitable for home students preparing to depart for studies abroad.

This session explores what international students can expect to experience during the first few weeks and months of living in Ireland. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own cultural biases and perspectives, and learn about differences in how people communicate across cultures in order to help them adjust to living in a new culture. 

from €300*

1-1.5 hour sessions delivered to up to 99 students.** 

*This is the reduced basic rate for institutions that are members of ICOS. The cost for non-members will be higher. ICOS also invoices for standard expenses for in-person sessions. Training equipment, venue and refreshments should be provided by the institution.

**Where a session is in excess of the maximum numbers, delivery may take place across two sessions, or a different rate may apply.

This session is for international students nearing the end of their studies in Ireland, or students who have recently returned to Ireland after a period studying abroad.

To prepare students for the challenges and opportunities they can expect to experience after studying abroad, and to reflect on how these may impact them, this session aims to help students have the best possible experience of returning home after studying abroad, to alleviate anxiety, and to provide students with practical resources to ease the challenges they might experience during the re-entry process.

While many students return home or take their next steps each year without too much of a struggle, each student will experience some elements of reverse culture shock. In this session, students will have the opportunity to reflect on where they are in their process and plan for future stages that they will face during their return home. The opportunity to investigate their own experiences and anticipate how they might cope with this transition is key to making the re-entry process as smooth as possible, and for the future development of skills and resilience in any setting. The session concludes with some practical exercises for participants.

This is a practical session with plenty of resources for students to take away. While this might be the first instance of reverse culture shock they face, it certainly will not be the last and this session will provide resources to students to build resilience and self-support to benefit them during any future transitions.