Muslims, Jews, and Protestants in France: Identity, Memory, and the Politics of Belonging
Dr. Thomas R. Tudor
Management Department
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
I am the main faculty member at my university that has specialized in human resource management, has responsibility for the HR curriculum, and that teaches most of the advanced courses. My attendance of the IFDS in France impacted my work in the following ways:
COURSES
Specifically, I was able to use this seminar to help update the human resource management curriculum to cover more religious diversity issues in the workplace and to add more depth to this subject. An emphasis was also placed on international human resource management issues using France as an example. These curriculum updates made significant additions to the MGMT 4391 Employment Law course and a revision to the MGMT 4385 Human Resource Special Topics course.
My better understanding of France and its major religious issues, differences, and history involving Muslims, Jews, and Christians (focus of CIEE seminar) improved my teaching when it comes to religious understanding, accommodation, and discrimination in the workforce. We now discuss the law in significant detail. There has been a dramatic rise in discrimination complaints, harassment complaints, and lawsuits from Muslims in the United States workplace. I am now better able to offer my students a more thorough education on religious issues and the impact these issues might have in the workplace and in the communities they may work.
RECRUITING AND RETAINING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
I have been involved at my university in trying to help recruit and retain international students. I think this CIEE seminar helped me better understand their needs and thus helped me give better advice on recruiting and retaining them.
In addition, this seminar helped me more closely relate to Middle Eastern and European students, which I think will also create a more positive experience for them at my university. I think it will help them to be more comfortable asking for educational help, recommendation letters, and help or advice with a possible cultural conflict issue. I am a leader on committees and with international outreach groups to recruit them and help them while they are here.
OUTREACH TO COMMUNITY
Our Provost has invited me to do a brown bag lunch forum on my research and development. Faculty and the public will be invited and it will be advertised. Because of this seminar, I will be able to discuss what I learned during it and will be able to share some interesting facts. For example, France will pay the teachers at private religious K-12 schools as long as these schools follow the same curriculum as public schools. This is one very interesting cultural issue that I’m sure will create a great discussion.
RESEARCH
This seminar also enhanced my research. I have already presented a paper at a conference in which I have proposed research on Banking and the Muslim culture. This idea came from this seminar. I have just submitted the proposal for a grant.