Coping the Challenges and Cross-Cultural Issues of International Development Cooperation Project

A.Y. 2024/2025
3
Max ECTS
20
Overall hours
Language
English
Learning objectives
This professional skills workshop aims to develop and strengthen specific cross-cutting skills. The abilities learned will help students through their education and enable them to acquire an initial toolkit of skills for a given professional field. These also include the general interpersonal and communication skills that are required for the world of work.
Expected learning outcomes
The professional skills workshop uses interactive and participative teaching methods to develop specific knowledge and skills in selected professional fields. This didactic approach aims to strengthen teamworking, knowledge sharing and problem-solving abilities, while also helping students to practically apply the skills and knowledge they have gained previously within a specific practical setting.
The workshop is open to a limited number of participants, enabling the organisation and monitoring of individual and group work so as to create the best possible opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and understanding gained.
Participants will gain an awareness of the workshop's underlying themes, giving them a grounding from which to form their own personal opinion on the topic at hand.
Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
First week
Course syllabus
The workshop will take place in person between 17th and 21st February 2025.

The goal of the workshop is to enhance knowledge about international cooperation, improve, develop and strengthen skills in intercultural communication and international negotiation (in which the lecturer has extensive experience), and finally, to provide cognitive tools to approach and implement an international cooperation project.

After introduction to the workshop, a kick-off activity will be implemented.

The topics will include:

- International cooperation project overview: context, partners, outcomes, outputs, indicators, stakeholders, and other elements.
- International development cooperation: main approaches, indicators, strategic international stakeholders, and types of cooperation.
- Cross-cultural management: international negotiation and cross-cultural communication; negotiation processes and techniques; the concept of culture and "cultural dimensions".
- Sustainable development and economic growth index; UN 2030 Agenda.
- Global opportunities: tenders, bids, calls for proposals, expressions of interest, and others. How to identify and select them.
- Introduction to project cycle management and SWOT analysis.
- Soft/non-cognitive skills. Role playing session
- Practical application: deliverables for the final project work. Students will be asked to put themselves to the test (see below -Assessment methods and criteria-) following some guidelines provided by the lecturer.
- Project work classroom presentation, critical discussion and peer review
- Debriefing of the workshop

Timetable
17/02: h 14.00-18.00, classroom T2
18/02: h 14.00-18.00, classroom T2
19/02: h 14.00-18.00, classroom T2
20/02: h 14.00-18.00, classroom T2
21/02: h 14.00-18.00, classroom T2

IT IS REQUIRED A PERSONAL LAPTOP.
Prerequisites for admission
No special knowledge or skills are required.
Teaching methods
The workshop includes:

- lectures
- laboratory teaching
- role-play
- peer to peer activities
- classroom discussions
- team working
Teaching Resources
Slides, references used in classrooom (secondary surces such as CIA Wordfact 2024, UNDP, weforum.org, official reports, multilateral organisations web pages, etc.) will be made available on Microsoft Teams.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Evaluation will be based on:

- Attendance (at least 16 hours out of 20- first lesson is mandatory)
- Participation in class activities, discussions and writing assignments.
- Individual /group Project Work (case studies analysis, document drafting upon evaluation , etc.) that will be showcased in the classroom.

Assessment parameters will be active participation in class, contribution to the clarity and soundness of the Project Work.
- University credits: 3
Professional training laboratories: 20 hours
Professor(s)