The International Association of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management (IACCM) conference in Naples, was held at the University of Naples ‘Parthenope’ DISAQ, on the topic of "Responsible Management: Social Sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion" - a theme of paramount importance in today.
A Human-Centered, Interculturally Oriented Curriculum
The Intercultural Management program at FACHHOCHSCHULE KÄRNTEN stands out as a pioneering curriculum in this field. Presented by Sveta Buko, Janet Brown, Colin Heller, and Eithne Knappitsch, this curriculum is gaining international recognition for its human-centered approach, intercultural orientation, and emphasis on sustainability and work-related competencies.
Key Highlights:
Empowering Learners: The program focuses on making learning spaces more collaborative and co-creative. It encourages learners to shape their own understanding of culture in context, find their own metaphors and meanings, and confidently navigate global interactions.
Innovative Teaching Methods: Janet Brown's presentation on developing Intercultural and English language competencies through COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) with Swiss partners is a testament to the program's innovative approach.
Industry and Academic Cooperation: Colin Heller highlighted the benefits of cooperation between industry and higher education institutions, speaking about how this type of collaboration is crucial for talent retention and integration in the regional cross-border context of Carinthia.
Global and Local Relevance: The curricular design of the program and key partnerships were presented by Eithne Knappitsch and Sveta Buko. These partnerships include a long-standing collaboration with the Transfrontier Euro-Institut Network (TEIN) and newer business partnerships like FERCAM. illustrating the program’s commitment to being relevant in both local ecosystems and the global context.
Insights from the Conference
The conference theme, led by experts like Milton J. Bennett and Christoph Barmeyer, emphasized the need for deeper, more conscious, contextualized, and collaborative intercultural education and training. This aligns perfectly with the ethos of the Intercultural Management program at FACHHOCHSCHULE KÄRNTEN.
The Future of Education
The conference, hosted by Chiara Cannavale, underscored the broader implications of cross-border business curricula for responsible management and regions. Louise Weber's talk on “Fostering Intercultural Competencies with Cross-Border Cooperation” highlighted the importance of strategic partnerships in achieving these goals.
Conclusion
The Intercultural Management Curriculum at CUAS, as presented at the IACCM conference, is validated by peers as an example of how higher education can adapt to the demands of a rapidly changing world. It is a program with a responsive and responsible curriculum that not only cares about shaping the next generation of responsible managers and global leaders but also does so with a deep commitment to sustainability, diversity, and inclusion.
