Cultural diversity and multilingualism are often celebrated as drivers of innovation and global competence in higher education. However, the assumption that these outcomes will automatically emerge from diverse environments risks falling into 'magical thinking' - the belief that simply assembling diverse individuals will suffice. This presentation examines Unite!, a pioneering European university alliance that has developed a structured approach to embedding multilingualism and multicultural engagement in everyday academic and organisational practice.

What began as a grassroots initiative has evolved into a formalised policy on multilingualism and multiculturalism, providing a scalable framework for transforming diversity into meaningful intercultural competence at individual, group and institutional levels. This approach seeks to harness linguistic and cultural resources in curricula, administrative structures and extra-curricular activities to promote intercultural engagement and the development of global competence.

By calling on all stakeholders to actively engage with diversity as a shared resource, Unite! addresses the challenges of integrating cultural and linguistic diversity while maximising its potential for impact. The initiative also provides practical tools, including a comprehensive guide with actionable implementation strategies, to enable institutions to adapt these practices to local contexts in a sustainable way.

Relevant not only to European University Alliances, but also to individual institutions and international networks worldwide, this approach exemplifies how higher education can move beyond symbolic commitments to diversity and develop transformative, locally adaptable strategies. This session will provide insights into these strategies, with a particular focus on their applicability to a global audience.

Authors:
Bjoern Kjellgren, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Björn Kjellgren is an associate professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. His research interests are in global competence education, especially in relation to the internationalisation of higher education.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

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