The ICT field of expertise is not limited to national borders. IT talent from around the whole world works on solutions for global challenges at Brainport. Fontys ICT and its partners from the business world have gained a strong international profile in recent years. Working and learning in a multicultural environment is enriching, but also presents challenges.
Ineke Huyskens, Ambition Theme Leader: “Global Acting is a broad and highly relevant theme. It goes far beyond exchange projects. We asked ourselves what it means to our students to be ‘global citizens’ and how we as an institute approach intercultural education and our role in global society. We have made great strides and I am very proud of the results.”
Highlights:
Global Acting & IT Minor
“We developed a very special minor in collaboration with universities of applied sciences in Belgium, Spain, Austria and South Africa. Students spend six months working
on an overarching assignment in the area of ‘sustainable development’. This minor offers students not one but five overseas experiences. Each university of applied sciences focuses on a different ICT field of expertise. That way, they work together on a good end result.”
Intercultural Awareness Edubadge
In addition to the standard curriculum, we are busy developing an Intercultural Awareness learning pathway. Students attend workshops and learn to interpret intercultural differences and to work on their communication skills. Together, this forms an extracurricular portfolio for which students earn an Edubadge. We see that businesses have a particular interest in professionals with international skills.
Professional development
Intercultural skills are naturally also important to our own organisation. With the help of an external training agency, we provided a series of workshops around intercultural awareness and skills. Over 100 employees attended the training courses, with a number being trained to deliver the courses to colleagues.
Research
The team was awarded a European grant for research into international awareness and intercultural skills. The research will take shape in the near future.
Profiling
We are one of the frontrunners in this area at Fontys. We actively share our knowledge within Fontys, amongst others, with the Internationalisation strategic working group. Our developments attract plenty of attention from overseas universities of applied sciences and universities.
Future
Internationalisation and global acting have become fixtures within the organisation. We have developed an extensive network of universities of applied sciences and universities overseas with which we organise exchanges. Business serve as clients and assessors. The number of exchanges has increased ten-fold since the start. Our progress has also led to a greater focus on the future. There is a vacancy for an Intercultural Development Project Manager. The incumbent will be responsible for further development of our intercultural organisation for and with our students and employees.”
Coordinator of Internationalisation and Project Manager Global Acting
Contact