As part of the College of Arts and Sciences’ (CAS) continuing international engagement, first‑year students of the Bachelor of Science in Development Communication (DevCom) program at Cebu Technological University–Main Campus attended a lecture on Monday by Dr. Faramarz Samifanni, an Iranian professor from Kyushu Kyoritsu University in Japan.
The lecture underscored the importance of Intercultural Communication (IC) in Development Communication, stressing that it ensures inclusivity in campaigns and builds trust with diverse communities.
Dr. Samifanni explained culture as a dynamic and learned system of shared values, beliefs, and practices. He emphasized that communication itself is “culture in action,” highlighting the role of language, nonverbal cues, and context in connecting across cultures.
He went on to discuss the interplay of culture, society, and identity.
“Culture shapes identity, society provides roles and expectations, and intercultural communication negotiates both,” Dr. Samifanni said.
Students engaged in group activities, crafted campaign messages applying both high‑context and low‑context communication styles, and participated in exercises on global voices in Development Communication.
Prof. Loubert John P. Go, English Language Instructor at CTU, assisted Dr. Samifanni during the session, further enriching the discussion and facilitating student engagement.
By putting intercultural sensitivity at the center of development work, Dr. Samifanni gave CTU DevCom freshmen a clearer sense of how communication can cross cultural boundaries and bring communities closer together.
