The student club “Intercultural Awareness” was created by three students – Aleksandra Petrova, Alina Taucheva, Anastassiya Kapayeva – of the Intercultural Management (ICM) degree program at FH Kärnten/CUAS, campus Villach. The idea appeared during personal challenges students face while studying in a new and international environment. Cultural misunderstandings, anxiety about the future and reality, huge interest in this topic due to the professional path, all of it made a basis for the club idea. The club is not just about organizing events and discussions – it is about creating a new culture of respect, understanding, and open communication where everyone can belong.
The main goal of the club is to build a comfortable and welcoming space where students can meet new people, share experiences, and better understand each other’s cultures and perspectives. The focus is on media literacy, real news, fakes, current global topics, and respectful dialogue. The club aims to develop a deep understanding of the processes happening in the world – to see past manipulations, biases, and disinformation, and to learn to see people simply as people.
Onsite and online discussions, events, and podcasts are planned, where students can exchange ideas and talk about important social and global topics. Participants will have the opportunity to improve their communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and public speaking skills. Together, attendees create a bigger picture of the world.
The initiative upholds values such as inclusion, openness, cooperation, and mutual respect. The club is open to both local and international FH Kärnten/CUAS students interested in intercultural communication and meaningful dialogue.
This initiative is connected to and supported by the ACE²-EU Social Impactor (SI) Culture & Diversity, chaired by CUAS, and the club founders are accompanied by the Social Impactors’ Alliance leads, Dr. Marika Gruber and Mélissa Pebayle. It aligns with the ACE²-EU Alliance’s goal of addressing socio-economic issues through the Social Impactors sub-unit, under the Societal Partnerships and Cultural Engagement (SPACE) Centre. Specifically, the SI Culture & Diversity focuses on various meanings and interpretations of culture(s), such as multi-, inter- and transculturalism, subcultures and countercultures, and aims to explore diversity in a broad sense, in an intersectional perspective, so the International Awareness Student Club’s vision matches perfectly.
This is not just another student club. The ambitions go beyond student life – the goal is to contribute to a more connected, respectful, and inclusive community, and ultimately, to change the world. Joining means becoming part of something bigger.
Register using the link below to become a member and receive news and invitations to new events:
Upcoming Activities:
- 11 June: Presentation of International Awareness Student Club during the Game Night x ACE Alumni Network
Upcoming Discussions:
- How Cultures Shape the Way We See the World
- How Media Shapes Our Perception of the World
- Can We Talk About Politics Without Conflict?
Aleksandra Petrova, Alina Taucheva, Anastassiya Kapayeva
