SIETAR Europa

Virtual Institute 2023

23 June – 7 July 2023

Shifting Perspectives from WEIRD towards Greater Global Inclusion

At the 2022 SIETAR Europa Congress, we were invited to Re-think Interculturalism, to challenge what we have known and learned from a Western Educated Industrial Rich and Democratic (WEIRD) perspective. This year’s Virtual Institute invites us to move deeper into those conversations to discuss how intercultural educators, trainers and researchers can move towards a more globally inclusive perspective.

The Virtual Institute will explore this theme through the lens of our core pillars: education, training and research.

Our intercultural work continues to intersect with justice, equity, diversity and inclusion work so can we or should we continue to over rely on WEIRD research tools and resources? Postcolonialism invites us to question a new more inclusive and less WEIRD approach to our work.

Throughout the Virtual Institute, participants will explore new non WEIRD perspectives and challenge the future and our approach to interculturalism with greater global inclusion.

The Institute offers three Master Classes featuring educators, researchers, and training practitioners who are on the cutting edge of research and best practices in their fields.

Each Master Class will include three sessions for participants to learn with their peers and guest experts and integrate their learning into their work.

  • Session 1-Research: In this session, guest experts will share their research and its implications.
  • Session 2-Practice: In this session, guest experts will share best practices.
  • Session 3-Future Implications: In this session, this Master Class cohort will work with a facilitator to discuss and consider the future implications of their learning.

For most SIETARians, networking and the opportunity to meet new and old friends, have a 1:1 conversation with interesting and potential collaborators – at a professional or personal level – ranks high as a motivator for attending our in-person congresses. We have partnered with the SIETAR Europa Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and a special cooperation partner, the #virtualspacehero who will host our Opening and Closing networking events for you! They will take place right after the Virtual Institute kick-off and keynote and after the Virtual Institute closure.

During the Virtual Institute, the Africa and Gamification SIGs will host events that feature the work, and engage participants in a variety of games, activities, and dialogues. The SIG networking events will be OPEN TO ALL SIG MEMBERS.

VI2023 Team

VI Coordinator: Papa Balla Ndong
VI Committee: Grant Douglas, Annelie Wambeek, Tamara Thorpe
VI Speaker Coordinator: TBD

Supported by
SIETAR Europa IT Services, Virtual Events Team, Communications Committee