KULeuven’s Intercultural Meeting Centre shows both in numbers and appreciation from students involved - no matter their background or study-phase - that student commitment and shared responsibility works, even with limited staff involvement or budget. Learn and share how to create an inclusive and welcoming environment in this hands-on workshop.
EFYE2024 – CopenhagenWorkshop | Social integration/belonging
| This workshop shows how the integration of international students at the beginning of their stay and community engagement throughout the entire period of study can benefit from the existence of a Third Space. KULeuven Student Services is committed to build a strong social bond by working with students as equal partners. We see social cohesion as a key factor for a fulfilled student life. Our team ‘Social Cohesion’ is dedicated in offering meeting opportunities. We are based in the intercultural meeting centre, symbolically called Pangaea. To thrive as a newcomer on a campus, you need to feel safe and welcome. With a Third Space as Pangaea, a student gets the sense of being offered a home away from home, a place where students are not visitors but engaged community members. Pangaea being the central location for the Orientation Days reinforces both the programme and the meeting centre. Pangaea is driven by a strong community of volunteering and paid students who care for their peers and contribute to the warmth and vibrancy of their meeting place, sustaining and enabling the Pangaea community. It is a bottom-up approach, creating a win-win situation for all. The main motivator for student commitment however is the sense of belonging and the interconnectedness with each other. It gives a sense of ownership, of being seen and valued for who you are in an extra-curricular context. Students can choose the level of involvement, but even by just dropping in and interacting with volunteers, they live the concepts of global citizenship and social responsibility. It proves to be a quick win in beating loneliness, overcoming insecurities and highlighting shared identity rather than focusing on differences. From our surveys conducted two months after arrival, Orientation Days in Pangaea appear to be the most important factor in the integration. The success is based on a calendar tailored by the student journey, a good location in the city/on campus, a flexible interior design and authentic interaction and communication. We have a steadily growing number of members and volunteers, who come back or stay involved long after they have graduated. After zooming in on Pangaea-practices, participants will share their experiences and reflect on three game-changers for a smooth integration: 1. running a successful place with students 2. co-creating a balanced welcome-programme with students 3. facilitating fulfilling engagement for new students. Using the Starfish Method participants will discuss best practices, challenges and pitfalls. |
What do participants experience or learn?