Enhancing cultural agility, communication and teamwork skills

For the purpose of enhancing internationalization the CSR and Ethics unit was delivered both in Sofia and in Thessaloniki. The unit started with 4 weeks of intensive lecturing at both locations. During these 12 hours of CSR students have acquired the foundation and core principles of CSR and ethics. After that students from the Bulgarian campus have travelled to Greece in order to form groups with students from the campus in Thessaloniki. There were 8 groups of 2 students from Bulgaria and 2 students from the International faculty, and 7 groups with 1 student from Bulgaria and 3 students from the International Faculty.

During the 4-day period students have joined different lectures, seminars and workshops which were arranged to help them with their CSR group project. The two CSR lecturers, Panagiota Skoulariki and Daniela Koleva were available for questions and discussions all the time, while workshops were delivered to students in order to develop a CSR program for a company.

This has proven to be an exceptional experience for all because they had the chance to visit and get familiar with other people with different cultures and to become agile. They met with colleagues from different countries, and got the opportunity to practice their knowledge on teambuilding and teamwork. Boys and girls from different parts of Europe have enhanced their social skills, have encountered diversity and have met with a variety of challenges. It is inevitable to avoid comparison, and students have indeed compared with each other. Some students have shown great leadership skills, others have participated as facilitators and intermediaries.

The 4 days of CSR activities have not only built groups and coursework activities but have also built friendships and positive memories.

For all lecturers and administration who participated in the organization of this event there were moments of tension and doubts how it will go. In the end we all have had a very good time and remain absolutely positive for the great value for all.

All students embraced this initiative and asked to repeat it again next year. You could see the satisfaction level about this new learning experience in their eyes!