On 15 October 2026, Dr. Tetyana Mayboroda, Associate Professor at the Oleg Balatsky Department of Management, Sumy State University, and SUNY COIL Ambassador for 2026–2027, delivered a guest lecture on “Cultural Intelligence: a core competence for global citizenship” as part of the Global Virtual Class “International Business and Global Leadership”, led by Professor Dipra Jha, Scholarly Associate Professor and Fulbright Specialist at the Carson College of Business, Washington State University (USA).
This COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) class brings together students from across the globe – from the U.S., Georgia, Kosovo, Mauritius and several Ukrainian universities – and is part of a long-standing international partnership launched in 2020. This year, more than 50 students took part in the session.
Tetyana’s session drew on real-life cases from her own experience and introduced practical tools and strategies that students can use to strengthen their intercultural skills, build empathy and act as effective global citizens. Participants engaged in interactive reflections and discussions on how to turn diversity into a shared strength in today’s interconnected world. In a live poll, students named adaptability and flexibility as the key competences for working in an international setting.
“Cultural intelligence is not just a nice-to-have; it is a must-have skill for leading with integrity and purpose in the 21st century,” says Tetyana Mayboroda.
This COIL initiative of the Oleg Balatsky Department of Management continues SumDU’s active commitment to advancing global learning, even in times of war, and reflects the power of international education to connect, inspire and transform.
