CBE Students Celebrate Diversity with Culture Showcase

The Culture showcase is an awareness initiative where students from the College of Business and Economics (CBE) explore and profile a country through the lens of cultural theory, showcasing its unique traits, artifacts, cuisine, clothing, and other cultural elements. This activity forms an integral part of the International Business (BUS321) course curriculum, which emphasizes fostering a neutral understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures worldwide.

For the second time, this exercise was transformed into a showcase event open to the entire university community. Students independently selected 20 countries from across the world, with no assignments dictated by the instructor. Their impressive creativity and dedication were evident in the initiative they displayed, presenting a rich and engaging array of cultural items and perspectives.

Participating students explained their approaches to represent their chosen countries:
Palestine “Representing Palestine at the Cultural Day event was a very meaningful experience for our team. We used Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions and Hall’s Context theories to explore Palestinian heritage, as it guided us through how we presented ourselves at the booth. We focused on symbols and visuals that highlight its deep cultural roots, and to bring the culture to life at our booth, we wore traditional kaftans and kuffiyehs, served authentic Palestinian food, and displayed traditional ornaments, with music in the background to set the scene. Participating alongside booths from other countries, this experience showed us how cultural awareness can help us work better together in diverse environments.” Muneera AlJuwaied, Tala Khalil, Zahraa El Husseini

Lebanon “Thank you for your kind words and for recognizing our efforts in the first-level culture showcase. It was truly a rewarding experience for our team. Winning the first-level culture showcase was more than just a victory—it was a celebration of identity, passion, and unity. Representing Lebanon’s rich heritage was an incredible honor and a transformative experience. Through this journey, we didn’t just showcase Lebanon’s culture; we immersed ourselves in its essence, shared its stories, and wove its vibrant spirit into a narrative that resonated far and wide. This exercise taught us that culture transcends borders—it’s about connection, curiosity, and fostering mutual respect. We are proud to have been entrusted with the responsibility of telling Lebanon’s story and hope our efforts inspired others to embrace the beauty of diversity and cultural exchange.” Silvia , Yara , Jenin

Mexico "For many of us it was a surprise that Mexico has high context and so many intricate characteristics that vary from state to state and even through time itself! This is why we chose to present the Hofstede through the lens of Frida Kahlo, a famous Mexican personality who stood out as a renowned artist that challenged the power distance and masculinity aspects in Mexico through her art and creatively incorporated elements of the day of the dead which reflects the culture’s way of dealing with uncertainty avoidance. Overall, it was a fun and enriching experience for all of us as a team." Jinan Said Salim Al-Harrasi, Mariam Y R D Saif, Shahad Y Y M A Alshamali, and Melora Noronha

Cbe students celebrate diversity with culture showcase

CBE students representing the Palestine display

Cbe students celebrate diversity with culture showcase