Across languages and cultures: Building global competence at Unite!
- Introduction
- How to use this guide
- Personal Development: What you can do on your own
- Collaborative Engagement: What you can do with others
- Community Engagement: What you can do for others
- -> If you are a student
- -> If you are a teacher
- -> If you are a researcher
- -> If you are admin/support staff
- Strategies for Management
- Glossary
- Literature & Resources
This resource offers practical ideas and examples to help you work, learn, and collaborate across languages and cultures at Unite!. Developing global competence can strengthen communication, collaboration, creativity, and career opportunities, while helping to build a more open, inclusive, and internationally connected alliance. Our multilingual and multicultural environment is something we support together through everyday teaching, research, projects, meetings, and community life, and small actions can make a real difference!
The Unite! Policy on Multilingualism and Multiculturalism is available here (PDF).
Unite! is committed to valuing and promoting multilingualism and multiculturalism in order to foster among its students and staff global competence, i.e., the ability to understand, communicate, and work effectively and appropriately with people from different backgrounds to address global challenges, in line with the aims and values of the EU and the Alliance’s mission statement.
English is the common language in Unite!. At the same time, functional multilingualism is encouraged in order to leverage the linguistic richness offered by the Alliance, maximise outreach and facilitate inclusivity.
Unite! promotes global competence education to acknowledge and benefit from existing cultural diversity and to provide industry and society with graduates equipped with the competences needed to contribute to solving global challenges.To achieve its objectives, Unite! will strive to integrate multilingualism, multiculturalism and global competence education into its educational provision, research activities and daily activities, and will monitor and evaluate its efforts. Implementing this policy offers benefits to you as an individual, including increased cognitive flexibility, problem-solving skills, cultural awareness, personal growth and improved relationships. It can help you access wider career opportunities, enhance your employability and better prepare you to participate effectively in diverse and international teams. Institutions can benefit by enhancing their international standing, attracting a more diverse student and staff body, and fostering a dynamic, inclusive and innovative academic environment.
This guide is designed to help you implement the policy and contribute effectively to our common project by providing helpful ideas and advice, without claiming to be exhaustive. All change takes commitment, time and effort, but even small changes can make a big difference. The collective impact of our efforts depends on the responsibility and initiative of each of us. You are best placed to determine what works in your own context.
How to use this guide
The strategies for good practice are divided into four sections. The first three deal with what you can do on your own (personal development), what you can do with others (collaborative engagement) and what you can do for others (community enhancement). The first two sections are aimed at everyone, while the community enhancement section has specific subsections for students, teachers, researchers, and administrative and support staff to provide more targeted content. Finally, there is a section with general suggestions for management.
When you have read through the guide, think about – or discuss with others – which part you would like to focus on. What can you do immediately? What help might you need to implement the other parts? We have provided some explanations, definitions and links to resources and good examples, but the items in this guide, as helpful as we hope they will be, are deliberately not an exhaustive list and should be read as inspiration and encouragement to continue to discuss, explore and experiment with different ways of implementing the Unite! Policy on multilingualism and multiculturalism.
Personal Development
What you can do on your own : Focus on your individual learning and growth in language, culture, and global awareness.
Collaborative Engagement
What you can do with others : Benefit from co-creating and engaging in activities and projects that foster intercultural and linguistic exchange and learning.
Community Enhancement
What you can do for others : Support and facilitate other people’s or groups’ multilingual and multicultural development.
Personal Development: What you can do on your own
Focus on your individual learning and growth in language, culture, and global awareness.
Stay curious and open-minded
Practice being open-minded, respectful and curious in your interactions with others. Make a habit of trying to understand other people’s points of view, especially when they differ from your own, to enhance cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills.
Commit to continuous learning about different cultures, perspectives and worldviews through observation and self-reflection to strengthen awareness of cultural perspectives and support personal growth.
Strengthen your competences
Assess your language skills for your current and future study and work needs, to identify areas for improvement and to tailor your learning journey effectively.
Assess your intercultural competence for your current and future study and work needs to better understand your strengths and areas for growth.
Strengthen your language skills, e.g., through language courses and apps, to enhance your ability to understand and connect with people from various backgrounds.
Keep a journal to reflect on your interactions with people from different backgrounds in order to learn more effectively and develop your intercultural competence.
Take advantage of language and intercultural training offered by your institution or community, such as language cafés or language tandems, to improve both verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
Participate in global competence workshops, seminars and courses that are beneficial for personal growth, professional effectiveness and intercultural collaboration.
Take advantage of existing opportunities
Explore new languages and cultures through media, reading, and interactive experiences, to enrich your personal knowledge and cultural understanding.
Engage with new people through events, clubs, online platforms or everyday interactions to broaden your cultural horizons and improve your social and communication skills.
Seek opportunities for internships or different forms of mobility to experience new and different environments, at home or abroad, as these experiences can lead to valuable personal and professional growth and broaden your global perspective.
Apply your language and intercultural competence in everyday life
Use your language skills and intercultural competence in everyday personal and professional situations to communicate more effectively and continue developing them.
Make the most of Unite! events, projects and programmes to learn and contribute to the richness of the Alliance’s linguistic and cultural fabric, enhancing relationships and making interactions more meaningful and productive.
Use the most appropriate and helpful languages for communication. English is the common language of the Alliance, but feel free to use or mix other languages where they help to promote inclusiveness and engagement.
Collaborative Engagement: What you can do with others
Benefit from co-creating and engaging in activities and projects that foster intercultural and linguistic exchange and learning.
Benefit from a diverse, welcoming and inclusive environment
Form diverse teams across different experiences, perspectives and backgrounds, creating study groups, teacher teams or research teams for a richer learning experience and more innovative and effective solutions to complex problems.
Ensure that everyone feels safe, included and valued for their individual perspectives and contributions to enable mutual learning and more effective teamwork.
Help create a supportive community where English, the local language as well as all other languages are welcome, enhancing mutual understanding, learning and integration.
Benefit from multilingual and multicultural engagement
Support the organisation of seminars or workshops that combine academic content with language and cultural exchange. Include topics on global challenges and opportunities for diverse collaboration to enhance your understanding of global issues and improve your ability to work with diverse teams.
Join projects that showcase cultural diversity, using interdisciplinary or international approaches to contribute and gain experience and insights, preparing you to work effectively in global and multicultural contexts.
Help create opportunities and networks for intercultural and linguistic knowledge-sharing to promote understanding and collaboration, build stronger relationships and foster mutual respect between participants.
Plan and run events that celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity and promote spaces for learning and interaction. Support and take advantage of multicultural festivals or institutional events to develop your organisational and leadership skills and deepen your intercultural understanding and appreciation.
Actively involve external stakeholders. This can generate rich interactions and enhance the quality and impact of your collaborative efforts.
Community Engagement: What you can do for others
Support and facilitate other people’s or groups’ multilingual and multicultural development.
If you are a student
Volunteer in extra-curricular activities promoting peer learning and cultural exchange: For example, participate in mentoring programmes for new or international students or help run language cafés to support peers in their learning journey, while developing your leadership skills and gaining valuable teaching experience. [See Example 12]
Contribute to linguistic and cultural events: Get involved in events designed to offer opportunities for exchange, mutual understanding and learning, e.g., international parties or other Internationalisation at Home activities, to foster a sense of community and cultural appreciation while also developing your organisational and interpersonal skills. [Ex. 13] [13]
Engage in campus diversity initiatives: Support and advocate for initiatives that promote a diverse and inclusive campus environment to create a welcoming atmosphere that benefits all students, while also building your advocacy and teamwork skills. [14]
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence. [15]
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are a teacher
Include language and cultural integration in courses: Ask your students about their different language skills, and encourage them to use and improve these skills in reading, writing and research activities.This will help students to improve their language skills and intercultural competence, and also make the classroom more dynamic and engaging. [16]
Create a shared academic culture: Consider how disciplinary traditions and academic norms may differ across educational contexts, and make these differences explicit in teaching and supervision. Include time and space to reflect together with your students about academic practices and expectations. Clarify mutual expectations in your context to create a good learning environment and foster mutual respect, which can also lead to smoother and more effective course management. [17]
Design intercultural learning activities: Use international case studies and problem-solving activities where participants’ diverse cultural backgrounds in teamwork are a real asset. Share your own experiences and insights as examples to prepare students for future global collaboration and to enhance their problem-solving skills, while also making your teaching more engaging and rewarding. [18]
Integrate intercultural training: Embed intercultural engagement and opportunities to develop global competence in your courses, projects and programmes, including Internationalisation at Home approaches, to prepare students for future collaboration and professional contexts.
Make intercultural learning outcomes explicit: Include intercultural learning outcomes in expectations, learning activities, feedback and assessment so they are treated as part of academic learning rather than optional add-ons. [19]
Mentor cross-disciplinary or global projects: Mentor students in projects to support their development as international scholars, providing guidance and fostering their academic growth and intercultural skills, which can also lead to fulfilling mentoring relationships. [20]
Develop inclusive resources: Create and/or use teaching materials and assignments that reflect and celebrate cultural and linguistic diversity. Use plain and inclusive language to make learning accessible and relevant to all students, which can also enhance your teaching effectiveness. [21]
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence. [22]
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are a researcher (including doctoral candidates)
Share international experiences: Offer insights from teaching or research abroad to inspire global perspectives in research and collaboration, enriching the academic community with diverse viewpoints and practices that can also enhance your own understanding and expertise.
Facilitate multicultural team building: Consider how disciplinary traditions and academic norms may differ across educational contexts, and make these differences explicit in teaching and supervision. Lead efforts to build international and multicultural research teams that enhance intercultural collaborative potential, improving research quality and fostering innovation through diverse perspectives, while also enhancing your leadership skills.
Promote multilingual and international programmes: Support the development of research projects and study programmes that include or encourage intercultural and multilingual engagement, including local languages for broader societal impact and deeper integration.
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence.
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are administrative or support staff
Support transnational meetings: Help organise meetings with colleagues from partner universities to facilitate international dialogue and collaboration, while also enhancing your organisational skills.
Provide support for cultural activities: Provide logistical and organisational support for cultural events and activities on and off campus to promote a vibrant and inclusive campus culture, which can also enhance your organisational skills and professional satisfaction.
Support inclusive campus initiatives: Participate in efforts to create a more inclusive campus environment for all students, faculty and staff, fostering a welcoming and supportive community that can also enhance your teamwork and communication skills.
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence.
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
Community Engagement: What you can do for others
Support and facilitate other people’s or groups’ multilingual and multicultural development.
If you are a student
Volunteer in extra-curricular activities promoting peer learning and cultural exchange: For example, participate in mentoring programmes for new or international students or help run language cafés to support peers in their learning journey, while developing your leadership skills and gaining valuable teaching experience. [12]
Contribute to linguistic and cultural events: Get involved in events designed to offer opportunities for exchange, mutual understanding and learning, e.g., international parties or other Internationalisation at Home activities, to foster a sense of community and cultural appreciation while also developing your organisational and interpersonal skills. [13]
Engage in campus diversity initiatives: Support and advocate for initiatives that promote a diverse and inclusive campus environment to create a welcoming atmosphere that benefits all students, while also building your advocacy and teamwork skills. [14]
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence. [15]
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are a teacher
Include language and cultural integration in courses: Ask your students about their different language skills, and encourage them to use and improve these skills in reading, writing and research activities.This will help students to improve their language skills and intercultural competence, and also make the classroom more dynamic and engaging. [16]
Create a shared academic culture: Consider how disciplinary traditions and academic norms may differ across educational contexts, and make these differences explicit in teaching and supervision. Include time and space to reflect together with your students about academic practices and expectations. Clarify mutual expectations in your context to create a good learning environment and foster mutual respect, which can also lead to smoother and more effective course management. [17]
Design intercultural learning activities: Use international case studies and problem-solving activities where participants’ diverse cultural backgrounds in teamwork are a real asset. Share your own experiences and insights as examples to prepare students for future global collaboration and to enhance their problem-solving skills, while also making your teaching more engaging and rewarding. [18]
Integrate intercultural training: Embed intercultural engagement and opportunities to develop global competence in your courses, projects and programmes, including Internationalisation at Home approaches, to prepare students for future collaboration and professional contexts.
Make intercultural learning outcomes explicit: Include intercultural learning outcomes in expectations, learning activities, feedback and assessment so they are treated as part of academic learning rather than optional add-ons. [19]
Mentor cross-disciplinary or global projects: Mentor students in projects to support their development as international scholars, providing guidance and fostering their academic growth and intercultural skills, which can also lead to fulfilling mentoring relationships. [20]
Develop inclusive resources: Create and/or use teaching materials and assignments that reflect and celebrate cultural and linguistic diversity. Use plain and inclusive language to make learning accessible and relevant to all students, which can also enhance your teaching effectiveness. [21]
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence. [22]
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are a researcher (including doctoral candidates)
Share international experiences: Offer insights from teaching or research abroad to inspire global perspectives in research and collaboration, enriching the academic community with diverse viewpoints and practices that can also enhance your own understanding and expertise.
Facilitate multicultural team building: Consider how disciplinary traditions and academic norms may differ across educational contexts, and make these differences explicit in teaching and supervision. Lead efforts to build international and multicultural research teams that enhance intercultural collaborative potential, improving research quality and fostering innovation through diverse perspectives, while also enhancing your leadership skills.
Promote multilingual and international programmes: Support the development of research projects and study programmes that include or encourage intercultural and multilingual engagement, including local languages for broader societal impact and deeper integration.
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence.
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are administrative or support staff
Support transnational meetings: Help organise meetings with colleagues from partner universities to facilitate international dialogue and collaboration, while also enhancing your organisational skills.
Provide support for cultural activities: Provide logistical and organisational support for cultural events and activities on and off campus to promote a vibrant and inclusive campus culture, which can also enhance your organisational skills and professional satisfaction.
Support inclusive campus initiatives: Participate in efforts to create a more inclusive campus environment for all students, faculty and staff, fostering a welcoming and supportive community that can also enhance your teamwork and communication skills.
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence.
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
Community Engagement: What you can do for others
Support and facilitate other people’s or groups’ multilingual and multicultural development.
If you are a student
Volunteer in extra-curricular activities promoting peer learning and cultural exchange: For example, participate in mentoring programmes for new or international students or help run language cafés to support peers in their learning journey, while developing your leadership skills and gaining valuable teaching experience. [12]
Contribute to linguistic and cultural events: Get involved in events designed to offer opportunities for exchange, mutual understanding and learning, e.g., international parties or other Internationalisation at Home activities, to foster a sense of community and cultural appreciation while also developing your organisational and interpersonal skills. [13]
Engage in campus diversity initiatives: Support and advocate for initiatives that promote a diverse and inclusive campus environment to create a welcoming atmosphere that benefits all students, while also building your advocacy and teamwork skills. [14]
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence. [15]
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are a teacher
Include language and cultural integration in courses: Ask your students about their different language skills, and encourage them to use and improve these skills in reading, writing and research activities.This will help students to improve their language skills and intercultural competence, and also make the classroom more dynamic and engaging. [16]
Create a shared academic culture: Consider how disciplinary traditions and academic norms may differ across educational contexts, and make these differences explicit in teaching and supervision. Include time and space to reflect together with your students about academic practices and expectations. Clarify mutual expectations in your context to create a good learning environment and foster mutual respect, which can also lead to smoother and more effective course management. [17]
Design intercultural learning activities: Use international case studies and problem-solving activities where participants’ diverse cultural backgrounds in teamwork are a real asset. Share your own experiences and insights as examples to prepare students for future global collaboration and to enhance their problem-solving skills, while also making your teaching more engaging and rewarding. [18]
Integrate intercultural training: Embed intercultural engagement and opportunities to develop global competence in your courses, projects and programmes, including Internationalisation at Home approaches, to prepare students for future collaboration and professional contexts.
Make intercultural learning outcomes explicit: Include intercultural learning outcomes in expectations, learning activities, feedback and assessment so they are treated as part of academic learning rather than optional add-ons. [19]
Mentor cross-disciplinary or global projects: Mentor students in projects to support their development as international scholars, providing guidance and fostering their academic growth and intercultural skills, which can also lead to fulfilling mentoring relationships. [20]
Develop inclusive resources: Create and/or use teaching materials and assignments that reflect and celebrate cultural and linguistic diversity. Use plain and inclusive language to make learning accessible and relevant to all students, which can also enhance your teaching effectiveness. [21]
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence. [22]
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are a researcher (including doctoral candidates)
Share international experiences: Offer insights from teaching or research abroad to inspire global perspectives in research and collaboration, enriching the academic community with diverse viewpoints and practices that can also enhance your own understanding and expertise.
Facilitate multicultural team building: Consider how disciplinary traditions and academic norms may differ across educational contexts, and make these differences explicit in teaching and supervision. Lead efforts to build international and multicultural research teams that enhance intercultural collaborative potential, improving research quality and fostering innovation through diverse perspectives, while also enhancing your leadership skills.
Promote multilingual and international programmes: Support the development of research projects and study programmes that include or encourage intercultural and multilingual engagement, including local languages for broader societal impact and deeper integration.
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence.
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are administrative or support staff
Support transnational meetings: Help organise meetings with colleagues from partner universities to facilitate international dialogue and collaboration, while also enhancing your organisational skills.
Provide support for cultural activities: Provide logistical and organisational support for cultural events and activities on and off campus to promote a vibrant and inclusive campus culture, which can also enhance your organisational skills and professional satisfaction.
Support inclusive campus initiatives: Participate in efforts to create a more inclusive campus environment for all students, faculty and staff, fostering a welcoming and supportive community that can also enhance your teamwork and communication skills.
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence.
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
Community Engagement: What you can do for others
Support and facilitate other people’s or groups’ multilingual and multicultural development.
If you are a student
Volunteer in extra-curricular activities promoting peer learning and cultural exchange: For example, participate in mentoring programmes for new or international students or help run language cafés to support peers in their learning journey, while developing your leadership skills and gaining valuable teaching experience. [12]
Contribute to linguistic and cultural events: Get involved in events designed to offer opportunities for exchange, mutual understanding and learning, e.g., international parties or other Internationalisation at Home activities, to foster a sense of community and cultural appreciation while also developing your organisational and interpersonal skills. [13]
Engage in campus diversity initiatives: Support and advocate for initiatives that promote a diverse and inclusive campus environment to create a welcoming atmosphere that benefits all students, while also building your advocacy and teamwork skills. [14]
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence. [15]
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are a teacher
Include language and cultural integration in courses: Ask your students about their different language skills, and encourage them to use and improve these skills in reading, writing and research activities.This will help students to improve their language skills and intercultural competence, and also make the classroom more dynamic and engaging. [16]
Create a shared academic culture: Consider how disciplinary traditions and academic norms may differ across educational contexts, and make these differences explicit in teaching and supervision. Include time and space to reflect together with your students about academic practices and expectations. Clarify mutual expectations in your context to create a good learning environment and foster mutual respect, which can also lead to smoother and more effective course management. [17]
Design intercultural learning activities: Use international case studies and problem-solving activities where participants’ diverse cultural backgrounds in teamwork are a real asset. Share your own experiences and insights as examples to prepare students for future global collaboration and to enhance their problem-solving skills, while also making your teaching more engaging and rewarding. [18]
Integrate intercultural training: Embed intercultural engagement and opportunities to develop global competence in your courses, projects and programmes, including Internationalisation at Home approaches, to prepare students for future collaboration and professional contexts.
Make intercultural learning outcomes explicit: Include intercultural learning outcomes in expectations, learning activities, feedback and assessment so they are treated as part of academic learning rather than optional add-ons. [19]
Mentor cross-disciplinary or global projects: Mentor students in projects to support their development as international scholars, providing guidance and fostering their academic growth and intercultural skills, which can also lead to fulfilling mentoring relationships. [20]
Develop inclusive resources: Create and/or use teaching materials and assignments that reflect and celebrate cultural and linguistic diversity. Use plain and inclusive language to make learning accessible and relevant to all students, which can also enhance your teaching effectiveness. [21]
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence. [22]
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are a researcher (including doctoral candidates)
Share international experiences: Offer insights from teaching or research abroad to inspire global perspectives in research and collaboration, enriching the academic community with diverse viewpoints and practices that can also enhance your own understanding and expertise.
Facilitate multicultural team building: Consider how disciplinary traditions and academic norms may differ across educational contexts, and make these differences explicit in teaching and supervision. Lead efforts to build international and multicultural research teams that enhance intercultural collaborative potential, improving research quality and fostering innovation through diverse perspectives, while also enhancing your leadership skills.
Promote multilingual and international programmes: Support the development of research projects and study programmes that include or encourage intercultural and multilingual engagement, including local languages for broader societal impact and deeper integration.
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence.
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are administrative or support staff
Support transnational meetings: Help organise meetings with colleagues from partner universities to facilitate international dialogue and collaboration, while also enhancing your organisational skills.
Provide support for cultural activities: Provide logistical and organisational support for cultural events and activities on and off campus to promote a vibrant and inclusive campus culture, which can also enhance your organisational skills and professional satisfaction.
Support inclusive campus initiatives: Participate in efforts to create a more inclusive campus environment for all students, faculty and staff, fostering a welcoming and supportive community that can also enhance your teamwork and communication skills.
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence.
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
Community Engagement: What you can do for others
Support and facilitate other people’s or groups’ multilingual and multicultural development.
If you are a student
Volunteer in extra-curricular activities promoting peer learning and cultural exchange: For example, participate in mentoring programmes for new or international students or help run language cafés to support peers in their learning journey, while developing your leadership skills and gaining valuable teaching experience. [12]
Contribute to linguistic and cultural events: Get involved in events designed to offer opportunities for exchange, mutual understanding and learning, e.g., international parties or other Internationalisation at Home activities, to foster a sense of community and cultural appreciation while also developing your organisational and interpersonal skills. [13]
Engage in campus diversity initiatives: Support and advocate for initiatives that promote a diverse and inclusive campus environment to create a welcoming atmosphere that benefits all students, while also building your advocacy and teamwork skills. [14]
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence. [15]
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are a teacher
Include language and cultural integration in courses: Ask your students about their different language skills, and encourage them to use and improve these skills in reading, writing and research activities.This will help students to improve their language skills and intercultural competence, and also make the classroom more dynamic and engaging. [16]
Create a shared academic culture: Consider how disciplinary traditions and academic norms may differ across educational contexts, and make these differences explicit in teaching and supervision. Include time and space to reflect together with your students about academic practices and expectations. Clarify mutual expectations in your context to create a good learning environment and foster mutual respect, which can also lead to smoother and more effective course management. [17]
Design intercultural learning activities: Use international case studies and problem-solving activities where participants’ diverse cultural backgrounds in teamwork are a real asset. Share your own experiences and insights as examples to prepare students for future global collaboration and to enhance their problem-solving skills, while also making your teaching more engaging and rewarding. [18]
Integrate intercultural training: Embed intercultural engagement and opportunities to develop global competence in your courses, projects and programmes, including Internationalisation at Home approaches, to prepare students for future collaboration and professional contexts.
Make intercultural learning outcomes explicit: Include intercultural learning outcomes in expectations, learning activities, feedback and assessment so they are treated as part of academic learning rather than optional add-ons. [19]
Mentor cross-disciplinary or global projects: Mentor students in projects to support their development as international scholars, providing guidance and fostering their academic growth and intercultural skills, which can also lead to fulfilling mentoring relationships. [20]
Develop inclusive resources: Create and/or use teaching materials and assignments that reflect and celebrate cultural and linguistic diversity. Use plain and inclusive language to make learning accessible and relevant to all students, which can also enhance your teaching effectiveness. [21]
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence. [22]
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are a researcher (including doctoral candidates)
Share international experiences: Offer insights from teaching or research abroad to inspire global perspectives in research and collaboration, enriching the academic community with diverse viewpoints and practices that can also enhance your own understanding and expertise.
Facilitate multicultural team building: Consider how disciplinary traditions and academic norms may differ across educational contexts, and make these differences explicit in teaching and supervision. Lead efforts to build international and multicultural research teams that enhance intercultural collaborative potential, improving research quality and fostering innovation through diverse perspectives, while also enhancing your leadership skills.
Promote multilingual and international programmes: Support the development of research projects and study programmes that include or encourage intercultural and multilingual engagement, including local languages for broader societal impact and deeper integration.
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence.
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
If you are administrative or support staff
Support transnational meetings: Help organise meetings with colleagues from partner universities to facilitate international dialogue and collaboration, while also enhancing your organisational skills.
Provide support for cultural activities: Provide logistical and organisational support for cultural events and activities on and off campus to promote a vibrant and inclusive campus culture, which can also enhance your organisational skills and professional satisfaction.
Support inclusive campus initiatives: Participate in efforts to create a more inclusive campus environment for all students, faculty and staff, fostering a welcoming and supportive community that can also enhance your teamwork and communication skills.
Welcome newcomers by providing insights to help them understand and navigate the local academic, linguistic and cultural environment, to help them integrate smoothly and feel more supported, while also enhancing your intercultural competence.
Document and share good practices to contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and collective learning, benefiting the entire academic community and also enhancing your own professional development.
Strategies for Management
Institutional development
Promote diversity and international mobility: Aim to attract students and staff from diverse linguistic, educational and social backgrounds to create a multilingual and multicultural academic community. Actively promote both physical and virtual international mobility for students, staff, and faculty. Recognise its value in developing global competence and enhancing intercultural understanding, thereby creating a dynamic and enriching academic environment.
Comprehensive internationalisation: Set clear objectives for internationalisation, including the promotion of Internationalisation at Home. Ensure that all members of the Unite! communities benefit from international and intercultural learning opportunities in everyday academic activities, not just those participating in mobility programmes. This includes embedding international perspectives in the curriculum and fostering a globally engaged campus culture to enhance the academic experience and prepare everyone for global engagement.
Develop and support training programmes
Actively support and encourage customised language learning: Tailor language courses to the needs of students, staff and faculty, focusing on English for global reach, local languages for community integration, and additional languages to broaden perspectives, ensuring that everyone is equipped with the necessary skills for diverse interactions.
Actively support and encourage global competence education: Implement hands-on workshops and co-curricular activities to enhance global competence for students, staff and faculty, ensuring relevance to institutional goals and stakeholder priorities, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Actively support accessibility and recognition of language and cultural learning: Ensure equal access to language and cultural studies for EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA students, staff, and teachers. Allocate working time for participation in courses and provide appropriate recognition of their learning through certificates and other forms of acknowledgement, promoting a culture of lifelong learning and inclusiveness.
Fostering an inclusive campus culture
Add multilingual and multicultural orientation: Integrate multilingualism and multiculturalism into onboarding for new staff and students. This includes familiarising them with the local academic and non-academic culture, languages and the cultural landscape of the campus so they can participate confidently in study, work and collaboration. Multilingualism is not only a learning objective but also a condition for equitable participation in academic life and decision-making across the Alliance. Differences in language background may create unequal conditions for participation and therefore require institutional support measures in addition to individual effort.
Create spaces for social interaction: Develop areas that encourage social interaction, such as club rooms, lounges and open spaces. These spaces are ideal for cultural exchange, language learning and fostering informal interactions that contribute to a united community and enhance the overall experience and sense of belonging for students and staff.
Implement Internationalisation at Home programmes: Initiate on-campus programmes that reflect an international environment and engage the entire community in global learning and cultural exchange. These programmes should be designed to bring the benefits of internationalisation to those who do not participate in mobility programmes, while also effectively integrating international students and staff to create a vibrant and inclusive campus culture.
Encourage collaborative diversity projects: Support projects that capitalise on cultural diversity and encourage interdisciplinary and global methodologies. These projects can enrich campus life and promote a deeper understanding of global issues and enhance the academic and social environment.
Establish mentoring programmes: Initiate mentoring to help navigate interactions across different experiences and expectations. Encourage experienced faculty, staff and students to mentor newcomers, thereby promoting knowledge sharing and intercultural understanding across the campus and fostering a supportive and inclusive community.
External collaboration and community engagement
Demonstrate multilingual and multicultural engagement: Pursue partnerships that reflect the institution’s commitment to diversity. Collaborate with local, regional and international organisations to draw on diverse linguistic and cultural resources and enhance global competence and expand the institution’s network and resources.
Encourage community initiatives: Support grassroot projects that align with Unite!’s vision, contribute to broader community engagement and offer diverse learning experiences. As Unite! is an emergent project, supporting grassroots initiatives is crucial to fostering innovation, inclusivity and active participation in building a cohesive academic environment, enhancing the institution’s impact and community engagement.
Blended Intensive Programme (BIP)
A short international learning programme combining virtual collaboration with a brief period of physical mobility, supported within the Erasmus+ framework. BIPs provide structured intercultural and disciplinary learning experiences that integrate online and on-site components, expanding access to international experience.
Challenge of diversity
A way of understanding cultural diversity in multilingual and multicultural environments. Cultural diversity creates opportunities for learning, innovation and collaboration, but its benefits are not automatic. Differences in language, norms and expectations may also generate misunderstandings or tension if they are not recognised and addressed. In the context of Unite!, the challenge of diversity refers to the ongoing effort to recognise, navigate and engage effectively and appropriately across differences, making diversity a resource rather than an obstacle.
Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)
A pedagogical approach in which students and teachers from institutions in different countries collaborate online within a shared course or project. COIL integrates international and intercultural collaboration into the curriculum without requiring physical travel. It is a form of virtual mobility and a common form of Internationalisation at Home.
Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
A framework developed by the Council of Europe to describe language proficiency in a transparent and comparable way. It defines six levels (A1–C2) and includes descriptors for reception, production, interaction and mediation, as well as for online communication and plurilingual and pluricultural competences. The CEFR supports clarity in language learning, assessment and recognition across Europe.
Communication
The process of creating, sharing and interpreting meaning through spoken, written, digital and non-verbal forms. In multilingual and multicultural environments, effective communication involves attention to language choice, clarity, context and implicit norms. The use of plain and inclusive language supports mutual understanding and broad participation.
Culture
The term is used in many ways in academic research and everyday language. It usually refers to shared meanings, values, norms and practices that influence how people understand the world and interact with others. Culture may relate to national, regional, linguistic, organisational or disciplinary contexts, as well as other forms of collective belonging, and is often connected to ideas about identity. In this policy, culture is understood as something fluid and dynamic rather than fixed or homogeneous, and as emerging in interaction rather than belonging only to groups.
Cultural diversity
The presence of different cultural backgrounds, experiences and perspectives within a community. The Unite! policy describes cultural diversity as an asset with the potential to strengthen innovation, collaboration and inclusion, depending on how differences are recognised, interpreted and engaged with in practice.
Functional multilingualism
The purposeful use of different languages for specific practical and communicative purposes. In Unite!, English serves as the common working language of the Alliance, while other languages are encouraged where they enhance inclusion, outreach and engagement. Functional multilingualism recognises that different languages may serve different practical purposes in different situations, and frames this flexibility as a resource for inclusion rather than a constraint.
Global competence
The term is generally used to refer to understanding global issues and interacting across cultural differences. In the Unite! policy, global competence means the ability to understand, communicate and work effectively and appropriately with people from different backgrounds in order to address global challenges. While intercultural competence often focuses on individual interaction, global competence also connects this interaction to broader aims such as sustainability, innovation and social responsibility.
Inclusive education
An approach to education that seeks to ensure equitable access, participation and meaningful learning opportunities for all learners. In this context, inclusive education aligns with the policy’s emphasis on creating inclusive environments and recognising linguistic and cultural diversity as part of the learning environment.
Intercultural awareness (awareness of cultural perspectives)
Awareness that norms, expectations and communication practices vary across contexts, including reflection on one’s own assumptions and standpoint. It provides a reflective foundation for developing intercultural competence.
Intercultural competence
A concept widely used in educational research and European policy frameworks. It refers to the knowledge, skills, attitudes and the ability to reflect on one’s own assumptions that support effective and appropriate interaction across different perspectives and contexts. In this guide, intercultural competence is understood as a key component of global competence, focusing on constructive engagement in diverse cultural contexts.
Internationalisation at Home
An approach to internationalisation in higher education that integrates international and intercultural perspectives into teaching, learning and campus life without requiring physical mobility. It ensures that all students and staff benefit from international and intercultural learning opportunities, including through approaches such as COIL and virtual mobility, not only those studying or working abroad.
Multilingualism
The term is used in various ways and may refer to the presence of multiple languages within a society or institution, or to the ability of individuals to use more than one language. In the Unite! context, multilingualism refers both to the linguistic diversity of the Alliance and to the encouragement of learning and using multiple languages as a resource for inclusion, mobility and collaboration.
Plain and inclusive language
Language that is clear, precise and adapted to its intended audience, so that readers or listeners can easily understand and use the information. Plain language involves presenting information in a clear order, using familiar words, explaining necessary technical terms and avoiding unnecessary complexity. Inclusive language avoids expressions that may exclude, stereotype or marginalise individuals or groups. In the context of Unite!, using plain and inclusive language enables equitable participation and helps ensure that all members and external stakeholders can engage fully with the Alliance.
Plurilingualism
A concept developed by the Council of Europe describing the idea that individuals draw flexibly on all their language resources as part of a single, evolving repertoire. Rather than treating languages as completely separate systems, plurilingualism emphasises the dynamic and interconnected nature of language use. The concept informs European language education policy and complements the Alliance’s approach to multilingualism.
Virtual mobility
Virtual mobility is participation in international learning, teaching or research activities without physical travel. It is an umbrella term that includes approaches such as COIL and Blended Intensive Programmes.
Literature & Resources
Cultural Diversity and Inclusion
Banks, J.A. (2015). Cultural Diversity and Education. Routledge.
Jackson, J. (2019). Introducing Language and Intercultural Communication. London: Routledge.
Gay, G. (2018). Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research, and Practice. Teachers College Press.
Gorski, P.C., & Pothini, S.G. (2013). Case Studies on Diversity and Social Justice Education. New York: Routledge.
Paris, D., & Alim, H.S. (2017). Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies: Teaching and Learning for Justice in a Changing World. Teachers College Press.
Developing and Assessing Intercultural and Global Competence
Byram, M. (1997). Teaching and Assessing Intercultural Communicative Competence. Multilingual Matters.
Cotton, D.R.E., et al. (2019). Global citizenship and cross-cultural competency: Student and expert understandings of internationalization terminology. Journal of Studies in International Education, 23(3): 346-364.
Deardorff, D.K. (2009). The SAGE Handbook of Intercultural Competence. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.
Deardorff, D. (2011). Assessing intercultural competence. New Directions for Institutional Research, 149: 65-79.
Deardorff, D.K., & Arasaratnam-Smith, L.A. (Eds.) (2017). Intercultural Competence in Higher Education: International Approaches, Assessment and Applications. New York: Routledge.
Fischer, R. (2011). Cross-cultural training effects on cultural essentialism beliefs and cultural intelligence. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 35(6): 767-775.
Hunter, B., White, G.P., & Godbey, G.C. (2006). What does it mean to be globally competent? Journal of Studies in International Education, 10(3): 267-285.
Schwarzenthal, M., et al. (2017). From tolerance to understanding: Exploring the development of intercultural competence in multiethnic contexts from early to late adolescence. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 27(5): 388-399.
Vande Berg, M., Paige, R.M., & Lou, K.H. (Eds.) (2012). Student Learning Abroad: What Our Students Are Learning, What They’re Not, and What We Can Do About It. Sterling: Stylus Publishing.
English as Medium of Instruction / Teaching in English
Coleman, J. A. (2006). English-medium teaching in European higher education. Language Teaching, 39(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1017/S026144480600320X
Deardon, J. (2014). English as a medium of instruction – a growing global phenomenon https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/publications/case-studies-insights-and-research/english-medium-instruction-growing-global
Macaro E. (2018) English Medium Instruction: Language and content in policy and practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Macaro, E. (2020). Exploring the role of language in English Medium Instruction. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 23(3), 263-276. https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2019.1620678
Sahan, K. et al (2021). Global mapping of English as a medium of instruction in higher education: 2020 and beyond | TeachingEnglish | British Council
Language Acquisition and Education
Cenoz, J., & Gorter, D. (2015). Multilingual Education: Between Language Learning and Translanguaging. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Edwards, J. (1994). Multilingualism. Routledge.
Ellis, R. (2008). The Study of Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
García, O., & Wei, L. (2014). Translanguaging: Language, Bilingualism and Education. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Hornberger, N.H., & McCarty, T.L. (2012). Globalization from the Bottom Up: Indigenous Language Planning and Policy in the Americas. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.
Lightbown, P.M., & Spada, N. (2013). How Languages Are Learned. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ortega, L. (2014). Understanding Second Language Acquisition. London: Routledge.
Multilingualism and Plurilingualism
Bradlaw, C., Hufeisen, B. & Nölle-Becker, S. (2022): Sprachenkonzept der Europäischen Technischen Universität Darmstadt und Maßnahmenkatalog als Grundlage für die Implementierung der funktionalen Mehrsprachigkeit. Darmstadt: TU Darmstadt (im Auftrag des Präsidiums der TU Darmstadt).
Bradlaw, C., Hufeisen, B. & Nölle-Becker, S. (2022): Das Konzept der funktionalen Mehrsprachigkeit im Kontext der Internationalisierung deutscher Hochschulen. Fremdsprachen lehren und lernen, 51, Heft 2, 38-5., https://doi.org/10.24053/FLuL-2022-0018
Bradlaw, C., Hufeisen, B. & Nölle-Becker, S. (2024): The concept of functional multilingualism in the context of internationalisation at German universities. In Danuta Gabryś-Barker and Eva Vetter (Eds.), Modern Approaches to Researching Multilingualism. Studies in Honour of Larissa Aronin, Chaim: Springer, 61-60. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52371-7
Corino, E., Costa, M., Fiorentino, A. & Sandra Garbarino, S. (2025): Language alliances and language policy. European Journal of Language Policy 17, 141-159. https://doi.org/10.3828/ejlp.2025.8
Fäcke, C., Plikat, J. (2026): Handbuch Mehrsprachigkeits- und Mehrkulturalitätsdidaktik. 2., updated edition. Tübingen: Narr Francke Attempto.
Fäcke, C., Xuesong A. G., Paula Garrett-Rucks, P. (Ed.) (2024): The Handbook of Plurilingual and Intercultural Language Learning. Chichester: Blackwell-Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394165957
Planning and Assessing Internationalisation
Bodycott, P., Mak, A., & Ramburuth, P. (2014). Utilizing an internationalized curriculum to enhance students’ intercultural interaction, engagement and adaptation. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 23(3): 635-643.
Deardorff, D.K. (2015). Demystifying Outcomes Assessment for International Educators. Sterling: Stylus.
Hudzik, J.K. (2011). Comprehensive Internationalization: From Concept to Action. Washington, DC: NAFSA.
Jones, E. (2016). Mobility, Graduate Employability and Local Internationalisation. York: Higher Education Academy.
Knight, J. (2004). Internationalization remodeled: Definition, approaches, and rationales. Journal of Studies in International Education, 8(1): 5-31.
Leask, B. (2015). Internationalizing the Curriculum. London: Routledge.
Mitchell, L., & Paras, A. (2018). When difference creates dissonance: Understanding the ‘engine’ of intercultural learning in study abroad. Intercultural Education, 29(3): 321-339.
OECD (2018). Preparing Our Youth for an Inclusive and Sustainable World: The OECD PISA Global Competence Framework. Paris.
Reimers, F.M. (Ed.) (2020). Empowering Students to Improve the World in Sixty Lessons. Leiden: Springer.
Tran, L.T., & Pham, L. (2016). International students in transnational mobility: Intercultural connectedness with domestic and international peers, institutions and the wider community. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 46(4): 560-581.