Why Cultural Intelligence matters more than ever in our schools

In my previous articles, I highlighted the diversity of the UAE, a country with over 200 different nationalities. If one walks into one of our classrooms, they will hear a symphony of languages and accents. In addition, our students and teachers alike bring a wealth of cultural heritage that needs to be cherished and celebrated. For all these reasons, school leaders need to move beyond being aware of diversity to being culturally intelligent. In this article, I uncover what Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is and highlight its paramount importance in our schools.

- Dr. Salma Waly is an Assistant Professor at Sharjah Education Academy.

Defining Cultural Intelligence (CQ)

Cultural Intelligence refers to how we act and respond to different situations based on our cultural understanding and awareness. The idea was first developed by Soon Ang and Christopher Earley who described CQ as the ability to navigate and respond to situations across cultural contexts including national, ethnic, and generational ones. In education, Cultural Intelligence is the foundation for inclusive and equitable school culture, communication, staff development, and parental engagement. It is no longer a soft skill. It is a strategic one.

Defining a Culturally Intelligent leader