SIETAR values

SIETAR members view the world as a set of interdependent people and cultures which are equal in value and offer a variety of perspectives and approaches to living and working in a global community. The main purpose behind our efforts is to increase acceptance and respect among and within cultural groups, thereby paving the way for world peace.

SIETAR goals

The main purpose of SIETAR is to encourage and support the development and application of values, knowledge and skills that promote and reinforce beneficial and long-lasting intercultural and inter-ethnic relations at the individual, group, organization and community levels..

Specifically, the SIETAR Global Council pursues the following goals:

• To enhance the awareness of intercultural issues in policy-making, business, and education
• To contribute to the solution of societal problems by facilitating communication between peoples of different cultures, and encouraging research directed toward improving knowledge and practices in the field
• To provide multi-disciplinary, professional expertise in intercultural issues in practice and research by establishing a network of intercultural specialists
• To contribute to the development of standards for interculturalism, and for the practice of intercultural education, training and research
• To support publications, personal and professional exchanges, research, and other projects as well as regional, national and international conferences and other events.
• To find ways to cooperate across borders to enhance the benefits of SIETAR membership and to enlarge the impact of SIETAR in the world.

SIETAR history

SIETAR was founded in the United States in 1974 by a few dedicated individuals to draw together professionals engaged in various forms of intercultural learning and engagement research and training.

Originally called SITAR, the name was later changed to encompass education and the Society became SIETAR. It’s goal was to provide a forum for exchanging ideas about training, theory, and research, and to learn from each other as well as to provide a place where interculturalists could strengthen their bonds with each other. They envisioned an exchange between people in different disciplines and professional activity that would strengthen the theoretical development and practice of intercultural communication.

The Society rapidly grew beyond the borders of the Untied States attracting people from around the world who had similar concerns and interests and was named SIETAR International in 1982.
Regional, national and local SIETAR organizations began to form, starting with SIETAR Europa, founded in 1991, which encompasses the national groups within Europe.

SIETAR Japan was founded in 1985 to serve the interests of its international membership in Japan. SIETAR Indonesia was formed to promote intercultural work in that country. SIETAR USA was founded in 1999 to bring together intercultural specialists in the USA and from across the continent. There are independent local organizations located throughout the USA and in Canada.

Young SIETAR, formed in 1994, offers students and young professionals across the globe ways to share ideas and discuss issues of interest. Each regional group and Young SIETAR holds an annual conference. Please link to their web sites to obtain the latest information on those conferences.

In 1999, it was decided to disband the International organization and create a global network of regional, national and local societies that would focus on enlarging the work of SIETAR within the boundaries of their communities and cultures while linking with each other to ensure an international perspective.

An interim management team managed these relationships until 2006 when the SIETAR Global Council, composed of representatives from established SIETAR organizations, was formed to encourage the development of and approve new SIETAR groups, coordinate and promote cooperation among existing SIETAR organizations, and work together toward a wider acceptance of the principles and practices of intercultural communication.