Swiss Global Training Days 2025-26
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Designed around the results of a needs analysis conducted in four Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences, the Swiss Global Competence Lab offered its inaugural Swiss Global Training Days in 2023-24. Due to the success of the pilot program, we are excited to announce an updated compilation of workshops for higher education employees wishing to advance innovation in various topics pertaining to the internationalization in higher education. |
Training Opportunities
Identifying the IoC Landscape in your Institution
19 May 2026, 09h00 – 12h00
Participation fee: 270 CHF
ZHAW, Zurich
Jacqueline Bürki, BFH Business School, and Patrick Studer, ZHAW Applied Linguistics
Addressing global challenges in higher education is even more essential today than ever before. In a super complex society, a shift in focus with regards to how we develop global skills in our students is essential.
In order to develop these global skills, we need to reflect on how we can internationalize our curricula (IoC) in a comprehensive way. In this workshop, we will critically review current IoC practices in participants’ institutions and analyze the characteristics of blockers and enablers.
In the course of the workshop, participants will develop a vision map that outlines concrete steps towards embedding IoC in their sphere of influence.
Intercultural Competence Development
Participation fee for both days: 760 CHF
ZHAW, Zurich locations
Stefanie Neumann, ZHAW Applied Psychology, and Susan Schärli-Lim, ZHAW Health Sciences
This first Intercultural Competence workshop focuses on
- what constitutes culture and how cultural competence is defined,
- recognizing facets of culture which affect intercultural interaction,
- awareness of one’s own cultural values and developing a sensitivity to the values of others,
- differentiating between different communication styles and forms of communication and how these may lead to miscommunication.
Participants will also reflect on their individual mindset towards their own as well as other cultures by completing the Intercultural Development Inventory questionnaire prior to the workshop.
In the second workshop, participants will build on their experience from the first workshop. In particular, the focus is on
- recognizing own intercultural conflict styles and those of others,
- being able to recognize critical incidents from one’s own professional life,
- addressing critical incidents in the workspace,
adapting one’s communication and cooperation behavior to different cultures in an appropriate manner defining future individual learning objectives.
Virtual Exchange: Designing for Global Competence
Participation fee: 270 CHF
Online Workshop
Jacqueline Bürki, BFH Business School, and Sandra McGury, ZHAW Applied Linguistics
Join us for an in-depth workshop aimed at educators looking to integrate virtual exchange (VE) in their educational practices. We will provide a comprehensive overview of VE programs, focusing on their goals and the essential components that contribute to their success. We will emphasize the importance of clearly defined learning outcomes, distinguishing them from traditional course outcomes and highlighting the necessity for explicit articulation of global competence development in VE contexts. Participants will learn a systematic approach to designing VE activities and assessments aligned with these learning outcomes. The workshop will conclude with discussions on the critical role of evaluating virtual exchange programs to assess their effectiveness and impact on participants‘ global competence development.
English-medium instruction as part of IoC: Opportunities and challenges
Participation fee: 270 CHF
Online
Paul Kelly, ZHAW Applied Linguistics and Patrick Studer, ZHAW Applied Linguistics
The number of courses being taught through English in higher education is increasing worldwide. Switching the medium of language to English, however, involves much more than simply individual teachers translating their slides and changing the language of content delivery into English. It impacts everything: from planning our courses, to the delivery and pedagogy. In this course, we will look at how English fits into the internationalized classroom. We will critically review current practices and analyse the potential and pitfalls university teachers have to look out for. The workshop will focus on
- definitions, current trends, and quality aspects of English-medium instruction (programs)
- communicative and didactic requirements
- teacher mindset
- planning courses and programs.
Participants in this course will be able to orientate themselves when planning to teach on, when planning to develop, or when planning to evaluate an English-medium instruction program in higher education.
Designing Future-Ready Curricula: Equipping Educators to Foster Global Competence and Future Skills
Participation fee: 380 CHF
Online Workshop
Ioana Gatzka, BFH Virtual Academy
This online workshop is for educators who want to make future skills and global competence explicit in their programs—so they are taught, practiced, and assessed. We will use constructive alignment to connect program goals, learning outcomes, teaching strategies, and assessment in a coherent way.
The workshop focuses on:
- identifying and prioritizing future skills for your context;
- writing / refining measurable learning outcomes that reflect global competence;
- designing student‑centred, challenge‑based activities that enable transfer;
- creating assessment tasks and rubric criteria that evidence these skills;
- mapping alignment at program level and outlining a 90‑day implementation plan.
Participants will work with one of their own courses or a program strand and leave with a concise alignment map, sample assessments, and practical next steps.
Please note:
Registration closes two weeks prior to the event. If you want to register for a workshop less than two weeks in advance, please contact us.