In November 2024, the course "Intercultural City: How to Communicate Effectively in a Diverse Environment" took place, bringing together students, representatives of NGOs, businesses, civil servants, and active citizens. This course was developed in 2022, and student enrollment occurs annually through the Lifelong Learning Center platform.
The program aimed to develop intercultural competencies, assess intercultural development levels, master the basic principles of interculturality, and acquire skills in project creation considering urban diversity. Participants gained unique teamwork experience and exchanged ideas for improving intercultural dialogue in communities.
The course consisted of interactive sessions conducted in a convenient hybrid format (online synchronically and synchronically). Throughout the sessions, participants had the opportunity to engage with representatives of different cultures, national minorities, experts in intercultural projects, and local government representatives. The dynamic learning format, including lectures, discussions, and practical case studies, facilitated active participation and deeper knowledge in the field of intercultural communication.
The course was led by Dr. Hanna Shvindina, Doctor of Economics, Professor, Senior Researcher at the Problem Research Laboratory of Socio-Economic Research at the Oleg Balatskyi Department of Management, Executive Director of the NGO "Lifelong Learning Center," and co-author of the Intercultural Development Strategy for the city of Sumy. Her expert approach and practical experience inspired participants to create their own initiatives. More information about the trainer: LinkedIn
Over three years, course materials have been accumulated into nine videolessoons, and access to them is now available on YouTube. Link: YouTube Playlist
This course was implemented within the framework of the Jean Monnet Project "Educational Agenda for Intercultural City Development" (ID No 101047729 ERASMUS-JMO-2021-HEI-TCH-RSCH).
The implementation of this course marked an important step in promoting an intercultural approach to urban development. Participants not only gained theoretical knowledge but also practical skills that will help them create innovative projects for community development in the future. All participants were awarded certificates of completion. Organizers plan to continue the initiative and expand the range of topics for future training events.
