We are all part of a global world. Europe as a region is distinguished by its cultural diversity and pluralism and RUN-EU, as part of that community, reflects this mosaic of cultures and languages. The EU and RUN-EU both aim to foster common understanding, further development and trust amongst its members. This brings with it certain challenges. This SAP will help prepare RUN-EU students for those challenges by addressing questions such as: What is this world of RUN-EU? How can I navigate my way through it? Who am I in it? Who is the RUN EU-er? How can I study and work effectively in such a multicultural context?

The aim of this SAP is to develop students’ intercultural competence to enable them to operate within several cultures at the same time. By promoting multiculturalism and multilingualism among the alliance regions, supported by student mobility, innovative pedagogies and blended learning activities, the programme also aims to contribute to societal needs and lifelong learning.

In this context, students will:

- explore their own culture and learn about other cultures

- characterise the ideal RUN EU-er

- develop a critical cultural awareness of their immediate, regional, global environments (e.g. RUN-EU)

- develop cross-communication skills when exchanging ideas with others from different backgrounds.

- ‘taste’ the languages of RUN-EU by participating in language taster session

Blended, in-person week at SZE, Hungary

Széchenyi István University (SZE) Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Polytechnic of Leiria (IPL) Technological University of the Shannon Midlands Midwest (TUS) Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (FHV)

During the SAP the students will be able to:

demonstrate an understanding of what cultures are, how they work, and develop an awareness of their own cultural identity

manage their own learning in a reflective manner

collaborate with others to achieve a common goal

interact with people from different cultures, comparing diverse linguistic/cultural features

discuss cultural diversity to begin to recognise cultural proximity or distance

think creatively (generate new ideas, evaluate and select the most appropriate for a given product)

demonstrate sensitivity towards their own and other languages / cultures and become aware of linguistic/cultural decentring (shift their focus from their own to other cultures/languages)