During 06–15 December 2023, PhD, Assoc. Prof. Viktoriia Shkola, coordinator of the EU Erasmus+ Project “Implementation of European Union mechanisms for combating modern challenges and threats” (101085700 – IMEU – ERASMUS-JMO-2022-HEITCH-RSCH), has taken part in a series of online intercultural events, hold within the course “Intercultural City”.
Among the invited speakers, the following experts delivered the speeches:
- Jessica Lin, Global Ambassador, Kinsey Institute, – “My Story: The Experience of a Transgender Woman”;
- Maryna Shevtsova, PhD (Economic Sciences), PhD (Political Science), visiting professor at the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), executive director and co-founder of the NGO “Platform of Equal Opportunities’, – ‘Inclusive Society and Equal Rights in Modern Ukraine: myth or reality?’;
- Dr Bill Forishe, Psychologist, PhD, Licensed Psychoanalyst, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (the State of WA license), ‘Forisha Counseling Services’(Minneapolis, USA), – ‘Anxiety Management as a Tool for Cultural Adaptation and Integration’;
- DrKsenia Rubicondo, an expert on intercultural policy, Council of Europe; national coordinator, Ukrainian Network of Intercultural Cities (ICC-UA);
- Natalya Troyanovska, an expert in the development of the Intercultural Cities program, chief specialist of the Department of Communications with the Public, the Department of Communications and Information Support of the Department of Communications and Information Policy, Sumy City Council, – “Intercultural City: history of network development and future prospects”.
As part of the events, participants discussed issues of intercultural competence, identity and intercultural communications; clash of cultures, social conflicts and discrimination, culture shock and cultural adaptation; the formation and development of an intercultural city, as well as examined the basics of the psychology of anxiety, which can arise when getting to know different cultures.
We sincerely thank the organiser and moderator Shvindina Hanna, Dr.Sci. (Management), Associate Professor at American University Kyiv (Ukraine), and Professor at Sumy State University (Ukraine), and speakers for professional, meaningful, extremely relevant and exciting events, and hope for continued fruitful cooperation.