International Crosscultural Education
- In short
- Know and apply various models of culture.
- Use methods to analyze cultural clash.
- Devise culturally relevant alternatives.
- Create and implement culturally responsive learning activities.
What is this course about?
This course consists of 2 modules:
1. Cultural Education & Multicultural Teaching
In this module you learn about culture and defining culture based on recognized models. You learn techniques to design both culturally responsive and culturally inclusive lessons.
2. Personal Acculturation
In this module you focus on yourselve as a learner in a multicultural or foreign context. You will reflect on both your professional and personal development during your second internship. The use of models of culture help you to describe your experience from both an etic (outsider) and emic (insider) perspective. You will also use input from members of the target culture and your own experiences to suggest inclusive approaches for the school.
What do I learn from this course?
By the end of this course you will be able to:
Know and apply various models of culture.
Use methods to analyze cultural clash and devise culturally relevant alternatives.
Create and implement culturally responsive learning activities and/or lessons involving multiperspectivity.
The goals for the module Personal acculturation are that by the end of the course you will be able to:
Reflect on your own personal and professional acculturation in a foreign/new educational context from both an insider and outsider perspective.
Propose inclusive improvements and suggestions for the school.
Is this course suitable for me?
This course is designed for professionals who have completed at least a higher professional education teacher training and who also teach at a school during the course.
What does the programme look like?
Day 1 (sessions 1-3)
Introduction to culture and cultural models. Applying cultural models in educational contexts and to analyse cases of cultural clash.
Day 2 (sessions 4-6)
Analysing cultural clash at school, introduction to culturally responsive teaching.
Day 3 (session 7)
Culture shock and going abroad, organizing exchange programs and hosting newcomers to a school.
Day 4 (session 8)
Final session, views on TTO and international education, inclusivity, peer review, wrapping up.
The assignments are completed between Feb and June, at school, and the self assessments are done once in January and once again in June at the end of the course.
Assessment tasks include the following tasks
Task 1: Awesome ICE lesson: Professionals design a lesson (series) using culturally responsive teaching strategies or address and issue in their subject using multi-perspectivity (TBD May 2026) | 50% |
Task 2: Inclusion and Acculturation Professionals analyze cases of cultural dissonance and inclusion at school. They reflect on an outsiders acculturation to the school context and propose inclusive recommendations. (TBD June 2026) | 50% |
Formative Tasks: Self diagnoses - students complete a self assessment with short reflection twice during the course (start and end) | Tasks need to be a pass to get full credits for this course. |
What will be my time investment?
Component | Hours |
Course sessions | 8 x 2 = 16 hours |
Preparing/processing sessions, studying literature, peer review, etc | 16 |
Assessment tasks and preparation:
Additional formative tasks:
| Assessment tasks and preparation: Additional formative tasks: |
Total: | 60 hours |
What are the dates of this course?
This course will take place on:
- 2 full days in January: tentatively 19 and 20 January 2026
- 2 hour session in February: date t.b.d.
- 2 hour session in June: date t.b.d.
Who are the teachers of this course?
The lecturers who provide education for professionals at Utrecht University are highly knowledgeable and actively involved in relevant, up-to-date research within their field. They combine academic depth with a sharp understanding of professional practice, which enables them to connect well with the participants’ world.
Our lecturers’ excellent didactic skills are specifically tailored to how professionals learn: practical, interactive, and applicable. In addition, they place great value on collaboration and create a learning environment where dialogue, knowledge sharing, and co-creation are central.
How do I register for this course?
Great that you are interested in the course Content and language integrated learning (CLIL). To enroll in this course:
You must have completed at least a higher professional education teacher training prior to this course.
You can only register for this course if you also teach at a school during the course.
A 15-minute online introductory meeting with the coordinators prior to the course is part of the registration.
Questions?
Do you have any questions about the course? Please contact Matt Decovsky at: m.i.decovsky@uu.nl.