Global Citizenship in Multicultural Academic Settings

Lectures and workshops; Virtual Phase: 28 January - 18 March 2027 (3-4 hours per week, combining self-paced study, group assignments and live interaction), Physical Phase: 21 - 27 March 2027 (full-day programme)

(Each partner university nominates one faculty member to the co-creation. That colleague chooses one slot; a colleague who travels to Alba Iulia may take both an online and an on-site slot. Allocation takes place at the design meeting in October 2026.

Online slots - Sessions 2, 4 and 5 (45 minutes each)

• One activity, one debrief, one takeaway that the group assignment of that module can use. No lecture longer than ten minutes.

On-site slots

• W1 - From Virtual to Physical: Building Trust (90 min, Movement I). Reserved for the host, since it opens the week and sets the group norms.
• W2 - Cultural Intelligence in Practice (120 min, Movement I). Four rotating stations; can be shared between two facilitators.
• W3 - Deconstructing Educational Power Dynamics (120 min, Movement II). Education, sociology, history or philosophy.
• W4 - Inclusive Classroom Design (90 min, Movement II). Education, psychology or disability studies.
• W5 - Cross-Cultural Communication Mastery (120 min, Movement III). Communication, linguistics or management.
• W6 - Conflict Transformation in Multicultural Teams (90 min, Movement III). Law, mediation, psychology or management.
• W7 - Design Thinking Lab (150 min, Movement IV). Engineering, design, business or computing.

W8 - Global Citizenship and Social Responsibility (90 min, Movement IV). Ethics, sustainability, theology or political science.

What every workshop must contain

• A bridge, in the first five minutes, to what students did in the preceding module or day
• At least sixty per cent of the time in activity: simulation, role-play, case work, station rotation or structured dialogue
• A concrete artefact the group takes away: a map, a brief, a rubric, a decision, a prototype
• A debrief that names the competence being built and asks students to record it in their reflection portfolio

A handover line to the next workshop, agreed with the facilitator who follows.)

Compliance with national and EU accreditation standards and with the ECHE.

• Undergraduate or graduate students from any academic discipline
• Minimum English proficiency: B2 level

28 January - 18 March 2027

Six live sessions of 90 minutes, plus asynchronous group work of three to four hours per week. Materials on MS Teams. Live sessions: 28 January, 4, 11, 18 and 25 February, and 18 March 2027.

Module 1: Understanding Cultural Identity and Awareness (Session 1-2, 28 January and 4 February)

Activities:

• Cultural Lens Exercise: complete a personal mapping of your cultural values, communication style, and everyday norms using an interactive reflection tool.
• Asynchronous Learning: watch short expert videos on how culture shapes perception, time orientation, relationships, and learning styles.
• Peer Dialogue Circles: join small online groups (6 students) to exchange stories about how culture influences your studies, teamwork, and daily choices.
• Group Assignment - Cultural DNA: map eight dimensions of your cultural identity, then co-design with your group a three-day orientation programme for a new international university hosting students from all your home countries. Three rounds: collision mapping, architecture, stress-testing.
• Reflective Journal: begin your weekly entries, focusing on moments when you recognised or challenged your own assumptions.

Deliverable:

• A two-page Cultural Architecture Brief and a five-minute recorded walkthrough of the trade-offs your group had to make (due before Session 2).

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand your own cultural identity and how it shapes your worldview
• Understand how cultural awareness builds empathy and improves intercultural interactions
• Build initial connections with peers from diverse backgrounds

Module 2: Global Perspectives on Education and Learning (Session 3, 11 February)

Activities:

• Guest Speaker Sessions: live talks from educators across regions (Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas) on how local context shapes teaching and learning.
• Comparative Learning Project: in international pairs, explore how education systems differ in values, methods, and expectations; present your findings in a short digital poster.
• Group Assignment - The Misunderstanding Files: each pair investigates a confidential case file in which no one acted maliciously and someone was still harmed. Phases: investigation from inside each party’s cultural logic, joint root cause analysis, cross-case panel with the whole group.
• Discussion Forum: contribute to debates such as "What does equality in education mean across cultures?" or "How do we decolonise knowledge?"

Deliverable:

• A Policy Brief for Inclusive Assessment (maximum 600 words) addressed to a fictional university Senate, and a three-minute video pitch (due before Session 4).

Learning Outcomes:

• Appreciate the diversity of global educational philosophies and practices
• Critically examine assumptions about "best practices" in education
• Strengthen your skills in cross-cultural communication and critical thinking

Module 3: Intercultural Communication in Practice (Session 4-5, 18 and 25 February)

Activities:

• Interactive Communication Lab: online simulations exploring direct and indirect communication, emotional expression, and non-verbal cues across cultures.
• Group Assignment - Lost Signal: a role-play negotiation in which each student carries a hidden communication constraint (text only, response-time pressure, language hierarchy, silence read as agreement). Three live micro-sessions of 30 minutes inside the group.
• Conflict Management Scenarios: role-play exercises that recreate common misunderstandings in cross-cultural teamwork and test different mediation techniques.
• Peer Coaching Session: practise giving and receiving constructive feedback in culturally sensitive ways.

Deliverable:

• A one-page joint proposal and a Communication Autopsy identifying three moments of misalignment, the cultural logic at play on each side, and what a skilled intercultural communicator would have done differently.

Learning Outcomes:

• Communicate effectively across different communication styles
• Navigate group dynamics in virtual multicultural teams
• Give and receive feedback across cultural boundaries

Module 4: Global Challenges and Collaborative Solutions (Session 5-6, 25 February - 18 March)

Activities:

• Group Assignment - The 2040 Council: each student represents a world region on a global education crisis, with genuine priorities, one non-negotiable, one compromise area and a hidden domestic constraint. Four rounds: position papers, bilateral diplomacy, coalition building, and a live 90-minute Council session with a rotating chair and a rotating observer.
• Global Challenges Workshop: teams link their work to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and select the challenge they will carry into Alba Iulia - education access, climate justice, digital equity or intercultural conflict.
• Project Design Sprint: form the working groups for the physical phase and co-create the outline of your intercultural project, defining roles, objectives and expected outcomes.
• Cultural Preparation Session: Romanian culture, social norms and history through short briefings and language micro-lessons for daily use, together with the practical briefing for the week.

Deliverable:

• The Council Resolution, a one-page consensus document with annotated footnotes explaining the cultural trade-offs, and individual Diplomat’s Journal entries.

Learning Outcomes:

• Apply intercultural and collaborative skills to complex global issues
• Strengthen teamwork, leadership, and negotiation abilities in diverse settings
• Recognise how cultural perspectives shape approaches to sustainability and problem-solving

Prepare effectively for the physical phase and the cultural immersion experience in Romania

21 - 27 March 2027

A maximum of four hours of workshops per day. The remaining time belongs to the Global Challenge Project, the community and cultural programme, and rest. Workshops take place in the Transylvania Princes’ Palace, Diet Hall, unless otherwise indicated.

Sunday, 21 March 2027 

Arrivals  |  Transfers from Cluj-Napoca and Sibiu airports, accommodation check-in

13:00 - 14:30  |  Lunch in the Citadel

14:30 - 18:00  |  Exploring Alba Iulia’s Multicultural Heritage

Activities:

• Guided tour of the Alba Iulia Fortress highlighting Roman, Habsburg, Hungarian and Romanian influences
• Visit to the Union Museum and discussion on multiculturalism in Transylvania’s history
• Free time to explore and engage with the local community

18:30 - 20:30  |  Welcome Dinner with Cultural Exchange

Participants share artefacts or stories from their home cultures. Workshop hours: none.

Monday, 22 March 2027  -  Movement I: Know yourself 

08:00 - 09:15  |  Breakfast

09:15 - 10:00  |  Registration and Welcome Coffee

Location: Apor Palace, Centre for International Relations

10:00 - 11:00  |  Official Opening Ceremony

Rector of "1 Decembrie 1918" University of Alba Iulia, partner representatives, programme coordinator

11:00 - 11:30  |  Coffee Break & Networking

11:30 - 13:00  |  WORKSHOP 1 (90 min) - From Virtual to Physical: Building Trust Across Cultures

Activities:

• Reconnecting after the virtual phase through interactive team-building exercises
• "Cultural Iceberg" exploration of visible and invisible cultural layers, building on the Cultural DNA assignment
• Setting group norms for inclusive collaboration
• Introduction to the week’s collaborative project

13:00 - 14:15  |  Lunch

14:30 - 16:30  |  WORKSHOP 2 (120 min) - Cultural Intelligence in Practice

Participants rotate through four practical stations of 25 minutes:

• Bias Recognition Lab
• Cultural Adaptation Scenarios
• Microaggression Theatre
• Privilege Walk

16:30 - 18:00  |  Group Work: Global Challenge Project Launch

Teams confirm their challenge (education access, climate justice, digital equity, intercultural conflict), agree roles and a working plan. Deliverable: final presentation on Friday.

18:30 - 20:00  |  Dinner

Workshop hours: 3h30. Builds on Game 1. Hands over the shared vocabulary for talking about cultural difference.

Tuesday, 23 March 2027  -  Movement II: Read the system 

08:00 - 09:15  |  Breakfast

09:30 - 11:30  |  WORKSHOP 3 (120 min) - Deconstructing Educational Power Dynamics

Activities:

• Critical pedagogy dialogue inspired by Paulo Freire
• Fishbowl discussion on hierarchy and student agency across systems
• Addressing colonial legacies in curricula, using the case files investigated in Module 2

11:30 - 12:00  |  Coffee Break

12:00 - 13:30  |  WORKSHOP 4 (90 min) - Inclusive Classroom Design

Content:

• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles
• Designing psychologically safe learning environments
• Group task: redesign a syllabus for cultural inclusivity

13:30 - 14:45  |  Lunch

15:00 - 17:00  |  Group Work and Mentoring

Teams research their challenge and test it against the policy briefs they wrote in Module 2, with their faculty mentor.

17:00 - 18:30  |  Free time or optional guided walk in Alba Iulia

18:30 - 20:00  |  Dinner

Workshop hours: 3h30. Builds on Game 2. Hands over the question of who is heard in a room and who is not.

Wednesday, 24 March 2027  -  Movement III: Communicate under pressure 

08:00 - 09:15  |  Breakfast

09:30 - 11:30  |  WORKSHOP 5 (120 min) - Cross-Cultural Communication Mastery

Activities:

• Verbal and non-verbal communication across cultures
• Active listening across language barriers; asking culturally sensitive questions
• Reading and responding to non-verbal cues; navigating language hierarchies and code-switching
• Simulation of a complex multicultural interaction

11:30 - 11:45  |  Short break

11:45 - 13:15  |  WORKSHOP 6 (90 min) - Conflict Transformation in Multicultural Teams

Content:

• Understanding cultural conflict styles
• Mediation strategies and applied role-play, drawn from the groups’ own Communication Autopsies

13:15 - 14:30  |  Lunch

14:30 - 17:30  |  Field Experience: Community Engagement

Options:

• Visit to a local NGO working with refugee, Roma or migrant communities
• Interactive session with Romanian high-school students
• Visit to a social enterprise promoting intercultural dialogue

Activities include:

• Facilitated dialogue with community members
• Collaborative activities with local students and community
• Reflection on privilege, responsibility and solidarity

18:30 - 23:00  |  Dinner followed by International Night

Participants organise performances, presentations or activities from their cultures. Workshop hours: 3h30. Builds on Game 3.

Thursday, 25 March 2027  -  Movement IV: Act together 

08:00 - 09:15  |  Breakfast

09:30 - 12:00  |  WORKSHOP 7 (150 min) - Design Thinking Lab: Collaborative Problem-Solving

Activities:

• Introduction to design thinking methods
• Team challenge: empathy mapping, ideation and prototyping applied to the Global Challenge Projects
• Incorporating diverse perspectives into solution design
• Rapid prototyping and peer feedback sessions

12:00 - 13:15  |  Lunch

13:30 - 15:00  |  WORKSHOP 8 (90 min) - Global Citizenship and Social Responsibility

Content:

• Ethical dimensions of international work
• Sustainability perspectives applied to the team projects
• Creating personal action plans for global engagement

15:15 - 18:00  |  Group Work, Mentoring and Rehearsals

Teams integrate the social responsibility component into their final presentations.

18:30 - 20:00  |  Dinner & Informal Networking Evening

Theme: "Bringing the World Home" - informal sharing of stories, art or photos from participants’ countries. Workshop hours: 4h00. Builds on Game 4.

Friday, 26 March 2027  -  Presentations and closing 

08:00 - 09:15  |  Breakfast

09:30 - 11:30  |  Final Project Presentations - Session 1

Format:

• Each team presents its global challenge solution (15 minutes + 10 minutes of questions)
• Presentations demonstrate the intercultural competencies learned
• Peer evaluation using structured rubrics

11:30 - 12:00  |  Coffee Break

12:00 - 13:30  |  Final Project Presentations - Session 2 & Jury Feedback

Continuation of team presentations; panel summary and commendations for creativity, feasibility and intercultural collaboration.

13:30 - 14:45  |  Lunch

15:00 - 16:00  |  Reflection Circle: Learning Across Borders

Activities:

• Guided reflection using storytelling prompts ("My turning point", "What I unlearned")
• Peer feedback on intercultural growth
• Journaling exercise: from awareness to responsibility

16:00 - 17:00  |  Closing Session: Round-up, Feedback and Certificates

Group reflection and key insights, feedback questionnaire, certificate ceremony, launch of the alumni network and closing ritual.

19:00 - 22:00  |  Farewell Gala Dinner

Celebration with music, dancing and shared memories. Workshop hours: none - the day belongs to the students’ own work.

Saturday, 27 March 2027 

Morning  |  Breakfast, check-out and transfers to Cluj-Napoca and Sibiu airports

Project starts online and is completed on site. The programme is built as four movements. Every virtual module and every day on site belongs to one of them.

See physical component.

To develop critical competencies in intercultural communication, global awareness, inclusive leadership, and collaborative problem-solving.

Experiential learning, peer-to-peer exchange, applying knowledge in real-world scenarios.

All workshops and modules are practical in nature.

Movement I - Know yourself

What is my cultural lens, and what does it make invisible to me? Module 1 and Monday in Alba Iulia.

Movement II - Read the system

How do educational systems and institutions produce inclusion and exclusion? Module 2 and Tuesday in Alba Iulia.

Movement III - Communicate under pressure

How do I communicate, disagree and repair across cultural difference? Module 3 and Wednesday in Alba Iulia.

Movement IV - Act together

How do we turn intercultural competence into a joint, ethical, workable solution? Module 4, Thursday and Friday in Alba Iulia.

Upon completion of this programme, participants will be able to:

Knowledge Competencies

• Articulate key theories of intercultural communication and cultural intelligence (CQ)
• Analyse how cultural contexts shape educational systems, learning preferences, and academic expectations globally
• Identify unconscious biases, stereotypes, and privilege dynamics in multicultural settings
• Explain the relationship between globalisation, internationalisation, and higher education transformation
• Recognise diverse communication styles, conflict resolution approaches, and decision-making processes across cultures

Skills Competencies

• Communicate effectively across cultural boundaries using active listening, empathy, and adaptive language strategies
• Navigate and resolve conflicts arising from cultural misunderstandings with diplomacy and cultural sensitivity
• Collaborate productively in diverse teams, leveraging different perspectives to achieve common goals
• Facilitate inclusive discussions that ensure all voices are heard and respected
• Apply design thinking and participatory approaches to address global challenges
• Utilise digital tools for cross-cultural collaboration and knowledge sharing

Personal Development Competencies

• Demonstrate openness, curiosity, and respect toward cultural differences
• Practise self-reflection and continuous learning about one’s own cultural identity and biases
• Exhibit adaptability and resilience when facing cultural ambiguity or discomfort
• Champion inclusivity, equity, and social justice in academic and professional contexts
• Embrace global citizenship as a lifelong commitment to intercultural understanding

1. Cultural Self-Awareness

• Recognise own cultural identity, values, and biases
• Understand how personal background influences behaviour
• Practise critical reflection on privilege and positionality

2. Cultural Knowledge

• Demonstrate understanding of diverse frameworks and worldviews
• Explain how culture shapes communication and social interactions
• Apply cultural theories to analyse real-world situations

3. Intercultural Communication

• Adapt communication style to different cultural contexts
• Practise active listening and empathetic inquiry
• Navigate language differences and non-verbal communication

4. Inclusive Leadership

• Create environments where diverse voices are heard and valued
• Address bias, microaggressions and exclusion constructively
• Facilitate inclusive discussions and decision-making processes

5. Conflict Resolution

• Identify sources of intercultural conflict
• Apply mediation and negotiation strategies across cultures
• Transform conflict into opportunities for learning and growth

6. Global Collaboration

• Work effectively in diverse teams across distances and differences
• Leverage diverse perspectives for creative problem-solving
• Use digital tools for cross-cultural collaboration

7. Ethical Global Citizenship

• Demonstrate commitment to social justice and equity
• Act responsibly in international contexts
• Contribute to sustainable and inclusive global communities

8. Adaptive Mindset

• Embrace ambiguity and cultural complexity
• Remain curious and open to learning from mistakes
• Demonstrate resilience in challenging intercultural situations

Assessment in this programme is based on active participation, engagement, and demonstrated intercultural competence. All components are graded on a Pass/Fail basis, determined by performance and contribution.

CERTIFICATION

Participants who successfully complete all requirements will receive:

• A Certificate of Completion issued by "1 Decembrie 1918" University of Alba Iulia
• 5 ECTS credits, subject to approval by the home institution
• A Digital Badge in Intercultural Competence, recognising practical skills gained throughout the programme

1. Virtual Phase Participation (30%)

• Completion of self-assessments and reflective journals
• Active engagement in discussions and online activities
• Consistent contribution to the four group assignments

2. Physical Phase Engagement (40%)

• Full attendance and meaningful participation in workshops and seminars
• Practical application of intercultural competencies
• Constructive collaboration within multicultural teams

3. Global Challenge Project (20%)

• Quality and originality of the proposed solution
• Evidence of teamwork, creativity, and cultural sensitivity
• Clear, engaging presentation and reasoning

4. Final Reflection Portfolio (10%)

• Critical reflection on personal growth and key learnings
• Inclusion of examples and artefacts from the programme experience
• Outline of an action plan for continued intercultural development

According to Europass scale. The programme awards 5 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).

Supervised online and onsite with identity verification.

Participants will have access to:

• A curated digital library of intercultural learning materials
• Online discussion forums and a dedicated peer networking platform
• Templates and tools for cultural assessment and project management
• Alumni mentorship opportunities for ongoing professional growth
• A post-programme learning community to support continuous development

• Students enrolled at partner institutions
• Undergraduate or graduate students
• (Students on Erasmus+ exchange during the same period cannot take part with Erasmus+ funding)

• First or second study cycle
• Any academic discipline
• Minimum English proficiency: B2 level
• Commitment to complete in both virtual and physical phases

• Online application form
• CV / Resume
• Motivation letter (500 words): Why this programme? What do you hope to learn?
• Letter of recommendation from a professor or academic advisor
• Proof of enrolment from your home institution
• English proficiency certificate (if applicable)

UAB selects the participants after their nomination by the sending partner institution based on a motivational interview.

• Student nominations by partner universities and session plans from facilitators: 15 December 2026
• Notification of participants, detailed programme and participant list: 15 January 2027
• Virtual phase begins: 28 January 2027
• Final virtual session and practical briefing: 18 March 2027
• Physical intensive week: 21 - 27 March 2027

Funding:

• Apply as a student with fewer opportunities or special needs

Online and onsite support:

• This is an inclusive and welcoming event. If you have questions about accessibility or would like to request an accommodation (for example: assistive technology support, assistive listening device, captioning, CART services, sign language Interpreter, reserved front row seat, large print, advance copy of slides to be projected, wheelchair access to buildings/rooms, wheelchair access to working tables throughout room, lactation room, diet destrictions and/or other needs), please include your requirements with your registration form.

Yes, based on ECHE.

Mandatory.

Internal and external quality assurance.

ECHE alignment.

Feedback questionaire.

Mandatory under Erasmus+ programme guide.

• MS Teams
• Technical requirements: stable internet connection, computer with webcam and microphone

According to the funding type (beneficiaries of Erasmus+ study mobilities cover their expenses while students coming without Erasmus+ funding have free accomodation and meals, as well as airport transfer from Sibiu and/or Cluj-Napoca):

• Accommodation: university dormitories or nearby hotels arranged by the organisers
• Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner included
• Local transport: provided for all programme activities, including airport transfers

Nearest airports: Cluj-Napoca or Sibiu.

https://intlevents.uab.ro/bip