FRIENDS MOOC - Unit 1 - Part 1

Summary

The 'Friends' project, supported by the Erasmus+ program, brings together universities from Europe and Asia to promote intercultural awareness, diversity, and internationalization at home. This MOOC, designed to improve global competencies, offers insights into cultural norms, values, and communication strategies. Universities from countries including Turkey, Hungary, Poland, and Bulgaria collaborate to deliver valuable lessons on European identity, intercultural communication, and global competence. The course aims to equip students with practical skills for thriving in diverse environments, fostering cultural understanding and improving employability across borders.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Friends Project is an Erasmus+ initiative focused on improving intercultural awareness and internationalization in higher education.
• 😀 The project involves universities from multiple countries, including Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Turkey, Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria.
• 😀 The project aims to enhance students' global skills and employability by developing their intercultural communication abilities.
• 😀 A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is being created as part of the project, focusing on topics related to cultural diversity and intercultural competencies.
• 😀 The MOOC is designed to help students navigate cultural borders and understand cultural differences in academic and professional environments.
• 😀 Istanbul Ayten University will contribute a module on cultural diversity, including topics such as ethnic diversity, linguistic barriers, and gender roles in different cultures.
• 😀 The University of Metropolitan Budapest will focus on European identity, European values, and how they are manifested in contemporary society.
• 😀 The Technical University of Silesia in Poland will contribute content on intercultural communication skills and strategies for overcoming cross-cultural barriers.
• 😀 The project introduces the concept of an 'intercultural passport,' which will help students improve their ability to navigate cultural borders and engage in intercultural communication.
• 😀 The Friends Project emphasizes the importance of both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to prepare students for successful interaction in multicultural environments.

Q & A

What is the main objective of the Friends project supported by the Erasmus+ program?

The main objective of the Friends project is to enhance international relations, intercultural awareness, and campus diversity, particularly through the concept of 'internationalization at home'. It aims to build global competencies and improve the employability of students across partner universities in Europe and Asia.

Which universities are involved in the Friends project and what is their significance?

The project involves universities from Bhutan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Turkey, Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria. These universities collaborate to design and deliver a massive online open course (MOOC) focusing on intercultural awareness and cultural diversity.

What is the concept of 'internationalization at home' mentioned in the video?

'Internationalization at home' refers to the idea of promoting international experiences and intercultural communication within a local campus environment, allowing students to gain global competencies without necessarily studying abroad.

What role does Istanbul Ayten University play in the Friends project?

Istanbul Ayten University focuses on campus diversity and inclusion, contributing to the development of global competencies for both local and international students. They emphasize the importance of intercultural communication skills and the need for global competencies for academic and career success.

What is the primary focus of Debrecen Metropolitan University in the MOOC?

Debrecen Metropolitan University covers European identity, values, and the European Union in their module, providing students with historical, political, and cultural context. They examine the development of European identities in the 21st century and explore European values as represented in cultural and artistic products.

How does Silesian University of Technology contribute to the MOOC?

Silesian University of Technology focuses on teaching intercultural communication skills and models. They provide practical strategies for overcoming cultural barriers in cross-national and cross-cultural communication, with an emphasis on business protocol and etiquette.

What content does Varna University of Management contribute to the Friends project?

Varna University of Management contributes to the project by focusing on international business, hospitality management, and cultural studies. They emphasize the importance of international student mobility and campus diversity and have been ranked highly for their international orientation.

What is the 'intercultural passport' mentioned in the video?

The 'intercultural passport' is a metaphorical tool developed in the Friends project. It serves as a certificate or label that helps students navigate and understand cultural borders, both in academic and professional contexts. It encourages students to develop intercultural competencies.

What is the significance of intercultural communication in the context of the Friends project?

Intercultural communication is crucial in the Friends project as it helps students develop the skills needed to understand and effectively communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds. The project provides students with practical strategies for overcoming cultural barriers and enhances their ability to thrive in diverse environments.

What are the main topics covered in the MOOC developed through the Friends project?

The MOOC covers a wide range of topics, including understanding ethnic and cultural diversity, linguistic barriers, gender roles in different cultural contexts, European identity and values, and intercultural communication skills. The course aims to improve students' intercultural competencies and prepare them for global careers.