INTERCULTURAL AWARENESS IN A GOVERNMENTAL SECTOR THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE IN QATAR

Abstract

This study examines the intercultural awareness levels of employees in the Ministry of Culture, both on a personal and institutional level. The rate of expatriate employees in Qatar has increased since the country's involvement in several international events, resulting in an increase in workplace diversity in both the public and private sectors. Scholars have argued that greater efforts are needed to enhance workplace diversity management, including diversity management training (Meqbel, 2014, p. 43). Although several private and public sectors provide training on various workplace-related matters, intercultural awareness is also an essential topic for managing workplace diversity. This study aims to address the lack of intercultural awareness research by examining the barriers that exist within a diverse workplace, both on the personal level (among employees) and the institutional level (within the Ministry), employing Baker's framework of intercultural awareness as an analytical lens. The research is an ethnographic case study that includes observations of events related to the institution and semi-structured interviews with 13 employees from different nationalities. The research identifies two primary levels of barrier: the personal and the institutional levels. On the personal level, the study identifies cultural and linguistic barriers. On the institutional level, it highlights the lack of English translation and exclusion of English speakers from various events and training sessions. These barriers impact both the employees' daily communication and the Ministry's role as an institution responsible for fostering diversity in the workplace. This research contributes to the field of intercultural communication, specifically in the workplace, as it serves as a foundation for further investigating diversity in the workplace and identifying the level of intercultural awareness in the workplace.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Humanities and Social Science