Our Faculty Hosts Cross-Cultural Communication Seminar for Malaysian Guests
Marmara University Faculty of Communication hosted a delegation of academics and students from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), in line with the university's mission to reinforce global academic collaborations. During the visit, which took place on November 24, 2025, under the coordination of the Office for International Relations and Academic Cooperation, a special "Cross-Cultural Communication Seminar" was organized for the guest delegation.
In accordance with the goal of increasing the university's international academic interaction, the Faculty of Communication and the Office for International Relations and Academic Cooperation prepared a special seminar program for the UMPSA delegation from Malaysia. Held at the Faculty of Communication building, the seminar was attended by Prof. Dr. Nuri Tınaz, Director of the Office for International Relations and Academic Cooperation.
Cross-Cultural Communication: A Necessity
The presentation, titled "Foundations of Cross-Cultural Communication," was delivered by Prof. Dr. Alparslan Nas and Res. Asst. Ekin Dalman from the Department of Public Relations and Publicity. The presentation emphasized that cross-cultural communication has become a necessity today due to increasing cultural, economic, technological, and political reasons. To explain the ways in which different cultures coexist, the speakers utilized metaphors such as, “the Iceberg”, illustrating the visible and invisible parts of culture; and “the Mosaic”, representing the coexistence of cultures while preserving their distinct identities.
The Solution: Cultural Relativism
The academics drew attention to issues often encountered in cross-cultural communication, such as stereotypes and racism. As a solution strategy, they proposed an approach that avoids ethnocentrism and adopts the principle of cultural relativism. Key practices for establishing effective communication were conveyed to the guest delegation, including increasing awareness, confronting prejudices and adjusting messages according to cultural differences.
The seminar concluded with comments and evaluations focusing on the cultural richness of both Türkiye and Malaysia.
