Learning in Diversity

Recently there has been strengthening demand for environments where students of different linguistic and cultural backgrounds learn together. Why is this the case?

One reason is that due to globalization young people increasingly need generalized skills in order live in ever more complex international communities and build their own future society. It is crucial for individuals to develop such abilities given the mountain of worldwide problems currently facing humanity, such as climate change, pandemics, conflicts, food insecurity, and poverty. These will only be overcome if we transcend our linguistic and cultural differences to rationally examine the current situation, share ideas, and think about solutions for creating sustainable communities. Modern society urgently needs young people with the mindset and skills required to do this. The ICL methodology designs educational environments in which students of diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds can meet and generate ideas while learning to respect each other's differences.

Until a short time ago, this sort of multicultural cooperative learning was usually experienced by studying abroad. However, students who could meet the numerous requirements to do so were a mere fraction of the student body.

In contrast, ICL can be incorporated into regular university classes and extracurricular activities, providing students who are unable or unwilling to go abroad with learning opportunities that connect them with the world.