Working Across Borders
HSCG students learn and work in virtual, intercultural teams, taking into account the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This year, students in the Bachelor’s program in Tourism, as part of the Leisure and Cultural Studies module, once again participated in the Working Across Borders project. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this intercultural project was a good opportunity for students to collaborate internationally and virtually.
The innovative “Working Across Borders” project was launched four years ago. Initially, five international partner institutions participated. Since then, the project has grown and become significantly more international over the years. As a result, 575 students from 11 countries took part this time.
In addition to HSZG, the following universities were involved:
- Binus University (Indonesia),
- CIS (Italy),
- Daffodil University (Bangladesh),
- Doba University (Slovenia),
- Durham College (Canada),
- Inholland University (Netherlands),
- Laurea University (Finland),
- Moscow State University of Management (Russia), and
- UCLL (Belgium).
Following the kick-off meeting in October, students from these institutions worked together in 115 teams through December. During this time, they were supervised by professors and staff from the participating institutions.
The focus was, on the one hand, on imparting cultural knowledge and intercultural competence. On the other hand, the students were to work together as international business consultants , each team focusing on a specific country. The goal was to develop creative business models based on selected UN Sustainable Development Goals for the “Seventh Generations” product line.
What is it like to take part in Working Across Borders as a student? The students look back and give tips for their successors.
A High-Achieving Class
The students made a very strong impression with their ideas and projects. Many teams engaged in lively and wonderful collaboration, during which friendships developed alongside sustainable and forward-looking ideas for the target countries.
Finally, on December 17, the “Final Session” for this cohort took place, during which the good, most innovative, and funniest projects—as well as the “Coaches’ Choice” award from Hanneke Willenborg (Seventh Generation)—were selected. Since this year’s cohort was exceptionally strong, choosing from so many wonderful ideas was difficult. Among the award-winning teams were students from HSZG.
Studying Without Borders: For us, it’s more than just a motto!
Here is the link to the final ceremony, for which all participants joined the Global Classroom at Durham College Canada: https://durhamcollege.ca/globalclass/class/working-across-borders-2020/
2nd upper floor