The Student Affairs and Professional Development Office hosted an inter-cultural communication workshop titled "Bridging Perspectives – Mastering Intercultural Communication in Policy & Diplomacy" led by Dr Alessandro LAMONICA, Head of Public Policies Unit at the Anna-Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation in Brussels.
How can policymakers, diplomats, and global leaders effectively navigate cultural differences?
This was the core question of the interactive workshop. It explored the intercultural communication as a key skill in international relations. Dr LAMONICA equipped participants with the necessary tools to bridge cultural gaps, negotiate across diverse backgrounds, and handle diplomatic crises with sensitivity. Students gained practical insights into overcoming cultural barriers in diplomacy and policymaking through real-world case studies, engaging simulations, and nonverbal communication exercises.
About the speaker:
Dr Alessandro LAMONICA is the Head of Public Policies Unit at the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation in Brussels, with a focus on enhancing intercultural dialogue across the Euro-Mediterranean region. Dr Lamonica is also Adjunct Professor of Public Diplomacy at the Brussels School of Governance. He was long a member of the Consortium Board of the Cultural Relations Platform of the European Commission and has been among the EUNIC Siena Cultural Relations Forum organisers from 2017 to 2022. Furthermore, he was the co-founder and deputy director of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in cultural relations and diplomacy (CREDO) at the University of Siena in Italy, where he used to teach cultural diplomacy.
Dr Lamonica holds a PhD in European Studies and International Relations from the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Italy.