Intercultural Learning

Course goals

Upon completing this course : 

• you are familiar with relevant concepts, such as 'cultural identity', 'intercultural communication' and 'intercultural competences';  
• you have insight into your own learning process while abroad, having thus increased the effect of your exchange experience;
• you are able to identify and name your (intercultural) skills and to deploy these in (your orientation on) the labour market or application for an MA programme. 

Content

Going abroad is a valuable experience and considered a useful addition to your academic and personal development. Students returning from a semester abroad, usually say "that they have learned so much". However, it can prove rather difficult to verbalize this learning experience: what exactly did you learn? In what respect(s) did you grow?
This course accompanies you during your exchange period. You learn about yourself, and you learn how to learn from your exchange experiences. A number of basic concepts from the world of intercultural communication will help you to identify and reflect on your experiences. Thus, you will learn how to verbalize the competences you acquire and develop during your exchange, in order to be able to use these in the future. 
 
The course contains three modules: pre-departure (A), while on exchange (B), upon return (C). 
 
Module A: Intercultural learning
In a pre-departure meeting, you will be introduced to a number of insights from intercultural communication. We will discuss relevant notions, such as 'cultural identity', 'national culture' and 'intercultural competences'. We will consider how adaptation to a new cultural context, the 'acculturation process', can unfold, and through which possible phases. We will also pay attention to the way we perceive and understand 'the Other'. In this context, concepts such as 'stereotype' and 'essentialism' are considered. In the assignment in this module you will mark your starting position, including your personal learning goals, and your expectations of your exchange. 
 
Module B: Intercultural reflection
During your exchange, you will write a number of individual reflection assignments, to increase your awareness of and learning process from your experiences abroad. Each of these assignments is given a clear focus, among which your academic context, your relation to 'the Other', and your acculturation process. Furthermore, you will be invited to share experiences with class mates and learn from theirs.  
 
Module C: Intercultural competences
Upon your return, we have one more meeting in which we draw a balance sheet. We discuss (intercultural) insights from your exchange experiences, and how to verbalize the (intercultural) competences you have developed or strengthened. In an individual assignment, you will return to your starting position, and consider whether or not you have been able to realize your initial learning goals. We will also work on ways to operationalize your (intercultural) skills in your future career. How can you transfer such experiences and skills into e.g. a resumé, an application letter or a job interview?     

 

Additional information

This course has a waiting list. If you enrol in this course, you will be placed on the waiting list automatically. Once course enrolment has ended, the available slots in the course will be allotted by drawing lots among the students on the waiting list. 

N.B. (1): The course is only open to UU-students with a Learning Agreement with a UU partner university abroad for the Fall 2026.
N.B. (2): Results in this course are generally based on 'voldoende' (V) (pass) of 'niet voldaan' (NVD) (incomplete). 
N.B. (3): Attending all meetings is mandatory. The pre-departure meeting will take place early July 2026, the meetings upon return are scheduled for the second half of February 2027.

Pre-departure meetings:
Group 1: Wednesday 1 July 2026 13.15 - 15.00
Group 2: Wednesday 1 July 2026 15.15 - 17.00