1. emanate ISSUE 01
February 2008
The Magazine of the Erasmus Mundus
Students and Alumni Association
Fast Forward! The Rocky Road Photo-Competition
The First General To Cultural Images of
Assembly of the EMA Understanding Interculturalism
Between
Cultures
Connecting Cultures Through Education

2. Introduction
Students and alumni,
EMA:
here’s your new
magazine!
An Important
Welcome to the first edition of “Emanate” – the new
in the Puzzle
magazine for students and alumni from Erasmus Mundus
programmes. The Emanate team is proud to say that this
magazine is almost entirely written and produced by stu-
dents and alumni. Since the Erasmus Mundus Students
and Alumni Association (EMA) first had the idea of start-
ing a member magazine it’s been a high priority that the I am very happy to introduce this first
magazine should focus on the things that students and issue of “Emanate”. This is the evidence
alumni care about. And what is a better way to ensure this that the Erasmus Mundus Students and
than to invite Erasmus Mundus students and graduates to Alumni Association - EMA for short -
write themselves? A big “thanks!” goes to all our contribu- has come a long way in building a strong
tors for their efforts! network for its members. Almost all ar-
ticles and photos come from students
The theme of this issue of Emanate is “between cultures”. and alumni themselves, really making
Since studying in other cultures is what Erasmus Mundus this new magazine their own forum.
is all about we thought this would be the perfect theme for
the first edition. So did other members of EMA – people I am pleased by the fact that this maga-
have been very creative in the ways they have interpreted zine and other EMA activities are in line
the theme. Find the articles on “between cultures” from with the European Commission’s visions for Erasmus Mun-
page 8 – we hope you will enjoy reading them! dus. In the second phase of the programme - which we are
about to launch - we try to marry continuity and innovation,
On page 22 you will find the first EMA photo competi- seeking at once to promote excellence, the attractiveness of
tion. In October last year EMA announced a photo compe- European higher education and inter-university cooperation
tition and now you get the chance to help pick the winner! with third country universities. Solidarity and excellence can
Have a look at the photos and go to www.em-a.eu, log- live together and positively influence each other. We want
in and vote for the one you think should win. Thanks to to honour the „Mundus“ dimension of the programme by
everyone who sent in their photos. We are grateful for all grouping, under the Erasmus label, all the European Com-
the interest that students and alumni have shown in the mission‘s initiatives linked to the mobility of EU and non-EU
competition. graduate students and doctoral candidates worldwide.
We chose the name “Emanate” for two reasons. Firstly, One of the main aims of the programme has been to create
it includes the name EMA and secondly, “emanate” means strong and long-lasting bonds between Europe and the rest
to “send forth” or to “flow”. Together with the website of the world. The establishment of a network of students
www.em-a.eu and the EMA Newsletter we would like the and alumni is without doubt an important piece in the puz-
magazine to keep information flowing between members zle. From the many contributions students and alumni have
of EMA. EMA is a forum for Erasmus Mundus students and made to the magazine it is clear that there is an interest
graduates to meet – for networking, for help and for fun. – and a need – for initiatives of this sort.
In the production of the magazine at hand we have shared Last year in October the first EMA General Assembly took
this vision. We hope that you will enjoy the outcome. place, another example that the association is growing and
The Emanate Team
The Emanate Team are (from left to right)
Rikke Skovgaard Andersen, EMA Magazine Communicator, Denmark | Michael Eshiemokhai, Nigeria | Angela Johnston, Canada | Jasmine Kang, India |
Gregor Lichtfuss, Germany | Zachary Rothstein, US | Mario Pardo Segovia, Spain | Valentina Villoria, Venezuela | Luca Zanaica, Italy
2 emanate | ISSUE 01

3. Table of Contents
Table of
Contents
Piece
News from EMA
reaching more and more students and Idealist and Realist: Hanneke Luth, President of EMA ...................................................... 4
alumni from Erasmus Mundus courses. The First General Assembly of the EMA: Fast Forward! .................................................... 5
I was present at this event and had So What Could Be the Next Step? Some advice from the EMA Jobs Team ............... 6
the opportunity to witness the elec- Erasmus Mundus Takes off in China....................................................................................... 7
tion of the association’s first president
and steering committee and to talk to
Between Cultures
students and alumni, who have become
ambassadors of the programme in their
own countries. It was inspiring to ex- Living in-between - One student’s personal perceptions of culture ............................. 8
perience the enthusiasm of everyone Serendipity in a Multicultural World - Short surprising moments................................ 9
present. Many great ideas were brought Two years of Ambition: Europe in Asian Eyes ...................................................................10
forward at the General Assembly and I Camembert with Chopsticks: The Rocky Road to Cultural Understanding ...............12
look forward to following the progress The Many Shades of Erasmus Mundus ..............................................................................13
of the EMA as the Commission contin- Culture Is an Iceberg .................................................................................................................14
ues to support interesting projects. Oslo to Tampere to Aveiro .......................................................................................................16
The Internationalisation of Higher Education ...................................................................18
The magazine that you now hold in What It Means to Be “Trini” - A new look at the Caribbean .........................................19
your hands, with its articles and photos The Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 .............................................................................20
sent in by people from all continents, is
truly a part of Erasmus Mundus life. I
Photo Competition
wish all readers an enjoyable time div-
ing into “Emanate”.
The First EMA Photo Competition - Images of Interculturalism ..................................22
Sincerely,
Higher Education News
A New Round of Erasmus Mundus Begins - An interview with Programme Man-
ager Vito Borrelli ........................................................................................................................24
Ján Figel‘
Success Stories
Commissioner for Education, Training,
Culture and Youth
Addressing the World - Students deliver their message about Conservation
and Mutual Respect to delegates from 172 countries....................................................25
Your Say
Steps toward Ending Discrimination in India ....................................................................27
Globalisation in Education ......................................................................................................28
Literacy - More than Reading and Writing .......................................................................30
Working toward Academic and Personal Growth in EUROAQUAE ..............................31
3

4. News from EMA
Idealist and Realist:
Hanneke Luth, President of EMA
By Tyler Henderson,
member of the EMA
Newsletter Team
In October 2007, the first EMA Gen- a lot of freedom and flexibility. But, she
eral Assembly elected Hanneke Luth to says, it is also a lot of hard work, “no
a two-year term as its first president. doubt about that.“
Hanneke, a 2005 graduate of the Eras-
mus Mundus European Master in Law During her first degree programme,
and Economics, spent periods of study Hanneke decided to take a year off to
at Erasmus University Rotterdam (the live and work in Asia. For six months she
Netherlands), the University of Bologna was involved with Jagran, an organisa-
(Italy) and Ghent University (Belgium). tion that raises awareness about social
While at Erasmus University, Hanneke issues like drugs, dowries, hygiene and
(who is Dutch) also spent two months at religious tolerance in New Delhi through
the University of California at Berkeley pantomime theatre. She then travelled
(USA) during research for her master’s throughout India, Thailand, Laos and
thesis. Japan, meeting interesting people and
On her experience at three different Eu- seeing amazing architecture, art and
ropean universities Hanneke reflected nature. She enjoyed being a tourist, but
that, “universities are bureaucratic in- could not outweigh her work experience
stitutions, that does not change when in New Delhi. As a European she realised
you cross a border. Making a change, she could “never fully be part of Indian Hanneke Luth
getting things done fast, all that is dif- culture, but working in the slums was
ficult. However, academia is a forum as close as I could come to it.“ Han-
where people come together to expand neke feels that her nine months in Asia lot of things will prove difficult. We are a young and very
knowledge and skills, discuss, broaden changed both how she sees the world ambitious organisation with little expertise. However, we are
their views and meet people. All univer- and its inhabitants and her personal intelligent and highly skilled people, committed to the EMA.
sities in Europe perform that function. priorities, making her mature more than The EMA is an organisation with a huge potential, bringing
People in academia, especially in Eras- five years at university. together very interesting, intelligent and motivated young
mus Mundus, are all opinionated peo- people, determined to fulfil their goals in life and make the
ple. They are not easily pushed around. Hanneke has been involved with the EMA work. It’s great to be part of that group. I really am hon-
The participants are not superficial; they EMA from the start, serving as commu- oured to be able to represent this organisation, and facilitate
all have their views and want to share nicator for the EMA Jobs Team on the its processes. These next years of the EMA are critical. I am
them. Spending a year with these in- EMA Launch Committee. She ran for convinced that we can set the EMA off to a good start!“
teresting and stimulating people is the President of the EMA because she saw
most amazing thing about doing an Er- that the organisation needed someone In her free time, Hanneke enjoys theatre, a passion of hers
asmus Mundus course.“ to chair meetings and keep track of de- since age twelve. Hanneke has acted in, directed and pro-
velopments, as well as to have a face duced plays, and helped organise theatre festivals. She likes
Hanneke is now a Ph.D. candidate in to serve as representative and contact cycling and once cycled 1800 km from Rotterdam to Huesca,
the European Doctorate in Law and Eco- person for the EMA. She felt she could a small Spanish town just south of the Pyrenees. She also
nomics, a multiple degree programme be effective in the role because she is a swims regularly, runs and goes spinning. In general, she likes
between Erasmus University Rotter- person who focuses on the big picture to undertake new things and explore. She is not interested
dam (the Netherlands), the University rather than on details, while still recog- in holiday resorts and says she would prefer to climb Mount
of Bologna (Italy) and the University of nising that details are important. Kenya. South America, Australia and New Zealand are next on
Hamburg (Germany). Her research fo- her travel wish list. With her vast international experience and
cuses on the economic effects of con- Hanneke is both a realist and a dream- ambition to know the world, Erasmus Mundus alumni around
sumer protection. Hanneke enjoys being er. About her term as President she says, the globe might be sharing coffee with Hanneke at their fa-
a Ph.D. candidate because it allows her “I want to be honest; I am convinced a vourite local café some time soon.
4 emanate | ISSUE 01

5. News from EMA
The First General Assembly of the
EMA: Fast Forward!
By Hanneke Luth, President of the EMA
On October 12, 2007, in Brussels, a long-anticipated event allow the EMA to make great progress plenary session. Five nominees had ex-
took place: the first General Assembly (GA) of the Erasmus in the year to come. pressed their interest in the position by
Mundus Students and Alumni Association. The majority of the The members of the GA were also asked responding to a call on the EMA website
Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses were represented at the to elect a Steering Committee and Pres- placed on August 1st 2007.
GA by current students and alumni from inside and outside ident of the EMA, and to vote on the As a result of these elections, the first
Europe. Since June 2006, following the launch of the EMA, Statute that has been developed over Steering Committee of the EMA is
about 27 people have been working hard at helping the EMA the last year. After distributing the Stat- now composed of:
grow and develop. Several initiatives have been set up that ute in hard copy so that everyone was • Jennifer Lenhart, Promotion
promote the interests of all EM students and alumni. While able to read it, there were several criti- • Sandra Oberhollenzer, Jobs
more needs to be done and perfected, all EMA members agree: cisms of the content. The Steering Com- • Chunyu Liang, Conferences
the EMA has great potential. mittee agreed to take all criticism into • Rikke Skovgaard Andersen, Magazine
As designated by the Statute, the GA represents the parlia- account when proposing changes and • Ross Zhongliang Hu, Newsletter
mentary power over the EMA; it is the most important organ amendments to the Statute in the next • Matthias Herkt, Policy
of the EMA. At the GA, which is to be held yearly, representa- GA, with the help of the Policy Team. • Taghi Paksima, IT
tives of EM courses can express their opinions, criticism and After that, the Statute was adopted by a • Hanneke Luth, President
approval, vote, elect, change and add to policy. The represent- large majority. The Steering Committee wishes to ex-
atives that formed this year’s GA took this responsibility seri- The Steering Committee is composed press their gratitude to all GA members.
ously. Contributing to lively discussions and expressing their of seven Team Coordinators and a Representatives that are so eager and
opinions, both positive and negative, the GA members pro- President. The Team Coordinators were enthusiastic, actively working together
vided important insights on improving the EMA. And as deeds elected by the respective teams in team to promote the interests of all students
speak louder than words, most of the GA representatives also parallel sessions. Every active team and alumni of EM, hold a great promise
decided to play an even more active role in the advancement member could participate in the elec- for the future!
of the EMA by joining a Service Team. The EMA Service Teams tions as either a nominee or voter. The
EMA, fast forward!
now consist of over 80 active members, a number that will presidential elections took place in a
5

6. News from EMA
So What Could Be the
Next Step?
Some advice
from the EMA
Jobs Team By Sandra Oberhollenzer, Jobs Team Communicator
Getting what you want 3. Remember, we live in a culturally di-
verse place: The way in which a cov-
Taking the first step to find your dream er letter, resume or similar is written
job, internship, PhD or other position varies from country to country. Talk
can seem daunting without a little to a local about what is considered
The EMA Jobs Team is
guidance: Here are some hints to help standard information and format
here to provide the means
you out! (or even better, ask for an example!)
before completing your application.
to increasing education And remember that not all countries
1. Use resources available at your uni- will be happy with (or even accept)
and employment opportu-
versity: Career advisers at your uni- an application written in English.
versity are able to give invaluable
nities worldwide to EMA
information to you - from how to Helping you look
act in an interview to the when and
members and expand
where of career fairs within your For a step in the right direction, check
field or even contacts in the place out the “Helping you look” section on
knowledge within indus-
you wish to apply to and more. the EMA website”s Jobs section at:
try and higher education www.em-a.eu/job-vacancies-and-phd-
scholarships.html .
institutes about EMA.
2. Apply specifically for the position:
Remember that three well-written The EMA Jobs Team is also interested
We are not a recruitment
job-specific applications is worth in how you feel we could help you as
more than 100 photo copies. Im- an EMA member. If you have any com-
agency, but we can help in
portant things to remember are to ments, information or opportunities
research the company or research available that you would be of interest
other ways.
institute you are applying for: show to EMA members with respect to em-
that you are interested in what they ployment or further studies placements
are doing and give specific exam- please contact us at:
ples. jobs@em-a.eu.
6 emanate | ISSUE 01

7. News from EMA
Erasmus Mundus
Takes off in China
Chinese EM alumni promote the programme in Beijing /
First EMA regional chapter successfully launched
By Sebastian Popp,
ICUnet.AG,
EMA Service Provider
The Europe Higher Education Fair
(EHEF) in Beijing, October 20th-21st,
received valuable first-hand support:
Chinese EMA members actively partici-
pated in the exhibition and helped to
promote Erasmus Mundus.
The two-day Beijing Europe Higher Edu-
cation Fair was held as a special guest
event of the China Education Expo at
the International Trade Exhibit Centre in
China‘s capital. An initiative of the Eu-
ropean Union, the event was carried out
by a consortium composed of Campus-
France, DAAD, Nuffic and British Council.
More than 150 European universities and
several national institutions and agencies
presented themselves at the EHEF.
Fifteen EMA members from China par-
ticipated in the fair, assisting the Euro-
pean Commission in promoting Erasmus
Mundus. They shared their experiences
studying in Europe with fair visitors
(prospective students and parents) and
answered questions directed at students
at the Commission‘s Erasmus Mundus
presentations. Chinese EM alumni and representa-
tives of the European Commission’s
Executive Agency, who took part in
Moreover, the EMA, its structure and The EMA regional event was held on October 21st in Beijing
the Beijing event.
its objectives were introduced to pro- with a get-together and a banquet dinner. 19 Erasmus Mun-
spective students in a presentation dus alumni and representatives of the European Commission‘s
and EMA promotion materials were Executive Agency joined the meeting which saw the founda-
distributed among fair visitors. The ap- tion of the EMA Chinese Chapter.
proach to supporting Higher Education The new institution wants to provide a platform for network-
promotional activities by letting alumni ing among Chinese Erasmus Mundus alumni under the um-
present their experiences turned out brella of EMA. In the meeting, different tasks working toward
to be a promising model that might be this goal were assigned among the participants.
successfully applied in future activities. The establishment of the Chinese Chapter marks an important
Coinciding with the Beijing EHEF, EMA step in the development of the association and is likely to
established its Chinese Chapter thus serve as a successful example for future regional EMA institu-
founding the first regional institution tions. Participants agreed that regional events will bring sub-
under the umbrella of EMA. stantial benefits to the entire EMA community.
7

8. Between Cultures
Between Cultures:
Living in-between
One student’s personal perceptions of culture
Despite the broad popularity of the
word culture and the endless list of en-
tries in any number of dictionaries and
encyclopaedias, it is still difficult to de-
fine such a ubiquitous and all-inclusive
phenomenon precisely. I am not going
to go into detail and ponder on culture
as such. We can easily take any of the
tons of books grappling with the ques-
tion and find thousands of answers and
we will still have no fewer questions. I
would rather share my personal percep-
tions of culture and how these percep-
tions change, if ever, when I encounter
other cultures. What does culture mean,
how does it influence us and is there
a way out of the in-between cultural
space?
First of all, only through the encounter Yuliya Yurchuk enjoys in the experience
of moving “in-between“ cultures dur-
with a new culture do I become aware other countries I have been able to see the difference on a
ing her Erasmus Mundus experience.
of the culture as a whole. I can even multilevel scale. But I do not face only differences, I also find
feel the culture, I can hear its dialect, I many similarities. While communicating with my friends from
can see its hues and I can taste its dif- Poland, India or Germany I can see that we share more com-
ference. An abstract notion of culture mon interests and common views than I have with my fellow
takes a palpable shape with distinctive countrymen. A distanced view of my own country allows me
features and characters. Some of them to see some of the problems in my country from a different
are so alluring that I want to make them standpoint and to shape a new unbiased opinion, however
my own. Sometimes I do so, through difficult this had seemed before. I can add that after becoming aware of
learning a language, through reading your feet you cannot pretend you do not
the literature, through friendships with No doubt, new cultures influence your identity and change have them. In building your patchwork
people I care about. In this way I create your personality. You never stay the same after encountering identity in a rapidly changing world you
my own space in a new culture. The new new cultures; this always brings new experiences, positive or will also change. Once you start you
culture becomes partly mine. In some not. The fact remains the same: you change. You are con- will never quit. It seems impossible to
cultures my “space” is large, in others stantly moving to the space in-between, where you belong come back from the in-between space.
it is very moderate, but still it is there. to several cultures simultaneously. The mobility between cul- You will be craving more rags for your
Everything depends on communicative tures becomes your life-style. Your identity transforms into patchwork. The end result is never clear,
and cultural skills and a feeling of per- a “collage of fragments” as Richard Sennett called it or into but the game is still worth playing.
sonal attachment to the culture. a “patchwork”, putting it in Heiner Keupp’s words. It is thus
Secondly, encountering a new culture no surprise that after living in foreign countries and experi-
gives you a perfect perspective for encing new cultures you feel lonely and misunderstood upon
viewing both your “own innate” culture returning home, where only a few people can share the same About the author:
and the “other” one. While living in my experience with you. You will surely need time to reintegrate. Yuliya Yurchuk is a student of EURO-
homeland (the Ukraine) I perceived my After living between cultures or rather living with/in cultures, CULTURE at the University of Gottingen,
difference on the individual level only. I can agree with Flemming Christensen, who wrote that in our Germany and the University of Deusto,
While travelling, studying and living in postmodern society we do not have roots, we have feet. And Spain.
8 emanate | ISSUE 01

9. Between Cultures
Serendipity
in a Multicultural World
Short surprising moments during my years in
Erasmus Mundus
Berlin – Treptower Park – May 2007 – Green, graffiti, the Berlin – Students‘ residence kitchen – September 2007 –
Spree river, boat-houses, many, very many trees, a forest with- the daily ritual of having tea among friends: Mexican, Bolivi-
in the city. There is a band playing in a clearing between the an, Iranian and Indian. Today, I informally interview an Iranian
bushes, the sun comes and goes; they are playing saxophones, guy. How do they feel about war? Is it possible to go to Iran
trumpets, and percussion to a rhythm that my body follows as a tourist? Is Teheran dangerous? Can he tell me some use-
and that brings me to Istanbul, where I have never been. And ful words in Persian? How do people flirt?… My former vision
while they play and I listen to three roasting pigs endlessly of Iran: war; my present vision: interesting people, ancient
spinning over a grill in front of the scene. culture, rich folklore, beautiful landscape. The Middle East is
veeery far away from Mexico and my hometown… well… on
Córdoba – Valderrama 12 – June 2006 – How can I take the other hand, Guantanamo is not that far.
with me the emotions triggered by a walk in the mosque, the
omnipresent smell of jasmine and orange blossom in May, the Europe – train – some days between 2005 – 2007 – I bor-
flamenco mood from a worker song or from inside a house row the childhood memories of two of my very good friends,
or from the clock of the main square?… labyrinthine and ul- Nury and Marga. Children drawing their surroundings. One,
tra narrow streets filled with the traffic of dogs, people, cars, Chilean, draws a little house with the mountain range behind
baby trolleys, bicycles, wheelchairs, and a couple of other it, trees, a river, and a happy smiling girl. The other one, Span-
types of vehicles. ish, Andalusian to be specific, draws thousands of green dots
The murmur of people speaking at midnight, having olives and (olive trees) and a happy smiling girl. Myself, Mexican, from
beer, still leaves room to remember the history of three cul- Mexico City, draw a couple of mountains linked by a rainbow,
tures living at the same time in the same place, a cathedral a car, a dog, a little house and a happy smiling girl.
inside the mosque in the Jewish neighbourhood. The Roman
bridge crossing the waters of Guadalquivir river and the walls I have found many surprises in a serendipitous way, without
of the ancient medina remain the same. expecting to: a Bulgarian who is a master of salsa dancing,
the endless differences in Spanish among Spanish-speak-
Rabat – Random tea place – December 2005 – Jumping ing countries, the rapid and usual solidarity among cultural
from Europe to Africa is a big jump. It is December; Europe is groups (Indians, Chinese, Latins, etc)…. and so on. An exciting
lit up, Christmas trees, sales!, Christmas songs, presents!, and trip among cultures, and a corroboration of a legend clandes-
Christmas postcards going home; Santa Claus is coming to tinely written on a library desk: ignorance is cured by reading,
town, one can feel it… Arrival in Morocco: no special lights, intolerance is cured by travelling.
no Christmas trees, no Christmas at all. The call to prayer. A
lesson for a Westerner: do not think that the Christmas spirit
invades the whole world in December; actually an increasing
population does not care about it.
About the author:
Adi Estela Lazos Ruíz is an alumna of International Master of Sci-
ence in Rural Development (IMRD) and will start her PhD in Spain
and Mexico in January 2008.
9

10. Between Cultures
Two Years of Ambition:
Europe in Asian Eyes
A journey of a mountain girl from the rocky roads of the
Himalayas to the Alps of Austria
Barajas Airport, Madrid: The Gateway to La Vida Loca.
Sweet Symphony. The formative years.
October 26, 2007. Vienna, Austria. Ktm, Nepal.
The October sky was low and forbid- She was a typical tropical child who
ding, an expressionless grey with not grew up in the late eighties and early
the slightest variation in colour. She nineties in the dusty roads, disorderly
headed towards the Heldenplatz to ob- streets and dimly lit homes of a third
serve Austria‘s national day celebration, world country. She ate mangos in sum-
the day in history when the last foreign mer and savoured the citruses in win-
soldier left the country. The first drop of ter and grooved to the beat of Michael
rain hit her face. She shivered a bit in Jackson. A typical nineties teen, she hid
the cold, damp, wind. There were many her emotions, never expressed her feel-
people waiting for the train at the sta- ings and cried in the bathroom. She
tion; few did anything but look down satisfied her curiosity with the “tell me
the curve in the track, anxious to hear why” series of books since there were no
the sound of steel wheels screeching to inexpensive personal computers or lap-
take them to their destinations. tops, no internet, no mighty Google and
Amidst the big crowd and the drizzle the know-it-all wikipedia. The window
the orchestra played a Beethoven sym- to the world was provided by either the
phony. Once the ceremony was over, she low-priced books, cable television which
escaped to the nearby park overlooking broadcast many international channels,
the house of parliament, sat on a bench, or slow dialup connections. But if one
stared at the dull Viennese sky and soft- had a mind and was willing to use it,
ly smiled to herself thinking “welcome no obstacle could dampen one‘s enthu-
to the country of ‘The Sound of Music’.” siasm. She nurtured ambitions, most of
It was her second year as an Erasmus which were realised. Things happened by
student at the Technical University of design as well as by default and finally
Vienna and the city was going to be her there she was, a noisy bubble, swim-
home for another year. ming in the sea of knowledge. Thanks to
the ERASMUS MUNDUS programme.
10 emanate | ISSUE 01

11. Between Cultures
Living La Vida Loca.
Madrid, Spain, 2006.
The aircraft touched down on the run-
way of Barajas airport and slowly turned
lifeless. The captain made his final an-
nouncement as she began her journey
to the land of “living la vida loca.” At the
first flat party her jet black hair, brown
complexion, tanned body and strange
features raised many eyebrows, most of
the European Erasmuses being oblivious
of the ERASMUS MUNDUS programme.
Do you have universities in your coun-
try? “Do you have Internet access?”
She was bombarded with questions the
students genuinely wanted answers to.
Some even asked her if they had Yeti
in the neighbourhood or if yak was the
only mode of transportation.
Europe is one continent but every coun-
try in it is so very different, something
she realised living with different circles
of friends. Distance from home was a From her homeland in the distant Himalayas, Prerana Dahal Sharma brought her own special contribution to
shimmering rainbow to her where she the cultural mix of Erasmus students in Europe.
did not have to meet any curfews. With
a newly-found freedom amidst people
from the different corners of the world,
she learned to communicate, to get real
with them, to set boundaries, to make
requests and to ask for things and to They explained the reason voluntarily and all of them would About the author:
listen to what people really wanted. try to come to a scientific conclusion, focusing on why it is Prerana Dahal Sharma is a second year
Slowly, she started seeing people as so rather than who made it so. Young people have always student of European Masters Programme
human beings irrespective of their hair played a key role in social reforms and transformation. They in Computational Logic (EMPCL) at the
colour, the shape of their eyes and their all believed in different creeds and belonged to different com- Technical University of Vienna, Austria.
accents. She partied till the early hours munities, religion hovering behind them, but nobody felt the
of the morning and attended the morn- need to be cowed, or converted, or condemned or killed. They
ing lessons. Then one fine summer day sat right next to each other, standing shoulder to shoulder, a
she bid farewell to Spain‘s sun and living most unlikely bunch of people united by the single thread of
la vida loca and headed for the country their interest in their studies and working collectively for the
of “The Sound of Music.” dream of a common life together. They had a vision of a new
world: a world of one universal religion, humanity and intense
interaction. They shared views, discussed ideas and tried to
develop a mutually enriching culture rather than a mutually
Romance with the exclusive one.
Erasmus Religion. This is not just her story; each Erasmus Mundus student has a
story of a generation of young people standing at the cross-
In her first year, the group she ate lunch roads of inheritance and a divided world, trying to look both
with included an eclectic mix of Jews, ways at once, and finding the strong connection in a sense
Christians, Orthodox, Moslems, Chi- of inner coherence. In the period of two years, they not only
nese and Hindus, most of them from have the opportunity to understand people they previously
religiously volatile parts of the world, considered as aliens but they also get a crash course taught
all of them devout to a degree in their outside the university that breeds a new brand of ambas-
respective religions. More often than sadors as citizens of the world instead of the foot soldiers of
not, one of them would announce that one country. Buddha may have chosen the path of solitude to
he was fasting, or he could not eat a reach enlightenment but in modern day interaction and har-
certain food prepared in a certain way, monious intermingling definitely awakes the Buddha inside
or any food at all, for a period of time. each of us.
11

12. Between Cultures
Camembert with Chopsticks:
The Rocky Road to
Cultural Understanding
How three different cultures forge common goals
What did we expect from this Erasmus started on time, but different students arrived at different The three of us come from three com-
Mundus programme? We certainly all times. For some this was normal, for others it was disrespect- pletely different ethnic and cultural
had our own ideas. However, most of ful. We even had a debate about banning the entrance to class backgrounds: China, France and Peru.
us got lots more than we bargained for. after 10 minutes. This however did not lead to any concrete We got through our first year of ad-
This article addresses both the expecta- result due to “cultural differences”. The expression “cultural aptation and are now hopefully better
tions we had before starting the course differences” highlights a very important lesson we learnt in equipped for making the second year
a less shocking and more easy-going
and the experiences we lived and learned the first year: how to adapt to a new culture. At the begin-
experience. But coping with a new en-
through. Both aspects have great rele-
vironment, a new city, new people and
vance for both our personal and profes-
new courses still remains a challenge. In
sional future in public health.
our case it could be a help that we have
already spent time together and learned
We all knew it was not going to be easy
to accept the fact that each of us is
studying in a different language, but
different, so the process of adapting in
perhaps we did not expect that inter-
the second year has not been so tough.
acting with our classmates would be
The fact that we are living in France
potentially more energy-consuming
and that one of us is French has helped
than reading Foucault or Berger. We
the other two to better and more eas-
spent the first year in Sheffield, England
ily understand the culture, but on the
in a course of approximately 60 people
other hand it has also been a process for
and around 25 nationalities from Eu-
the French student of readapting to her
rope, Asia, Africa, the Americas and the
own culture after spending almost 18
Caribbean. Sharing a classroom with all
months abroad. Sharing our differences
these students turned out to be both
and explaining them to each other has
a very fruitful and a fairly traumatic
become a valuable way of learning from
adventure. Trying to understand differ-
each other, which we do not look on
ent accents, the way others formulate
negatively but rather enjoy. One activ-
questions and perform debates about Elsa Dufay, César Eduardo Wong Alcázar, and Ying Wu
experienced first-hand both the challenges and enrichments ity we enjoy doing is cooking and eat-
social and cultural aspects can be quite
of intercultural collaboration.
ing together. This can lead to interesting
disconcerting at the beginning. Step by
novelties: using chopsticks to eat cam-
step, we learned that there is no ideal or
embert (a typical French cheese) could
unique answer to some issues; it might
become an interesting way of spending
be possible in mathematics, where two
an evening! While we eat we learn and
plus two equals four in every corner of ning we needed to “deal” with other students and with be-
talk about our differences and home
the world, but a child or woman‘s status ing surprised about their clothes, their way of speaking and
cultures. We learn something new every
in Nigeria might not necessarily be the pronunciation, the way they said hello and introduced them-
day. “Cultural differences” still exist, but
same in Korea. selves. After one year of obtaining “cultural skills”, two groups
we have been much better at taking
of Europubhealth (Sheffield and Granada) came together and
them on board this time.
There are numerous anecdotes to illus- took part in an integrative module for one month in Krakow.
The question is how we can take advan-
trate this general point, but let‘s look Here we worked and lived together and managed to get along
tage of what we have lived through and
at the question of punctuality. Classes well with each other.
12 emanate | ISSUE 01

13. Between Cultures
The Many Shades of
Erasmus Mundus
An opportunity for many
unique life-lessons
Having spent a year in the Erasmus Mundus programme I would say that
Erasmus Mundus has several meanings for me. As a student from a devel-
oping country, I would give the following answers to the question “what is
Erasmus Mundus?”:
experienced and how we should apply it in our future private
and professional lives. Firstly in the personal area, we have
learnt to be more open and not judge other people‘s actions A group of Masters courses, which the Euro, in most countries of the
and behaviour too quickly. We need to accept others the way cut across various disciplines rang- European Union.
they are, and not be too eager to change them so that they ing from engineering and sciences
think like us or believe in what we believe. While working in to humanities and arts. A time to learn just a bit more
public health even in our own countries, we will need to come about banking terms involved in the
to terms with different groups and their needs. We need to A chance to study and live in at transfer of money across countries,
understand populations and communities, and it is vital to least two different countries in Eu- such as the SWIFT and IBAN codes.
take into consideration their beliefs, needs and expectations rope.
whenever we implement or design a project. Over and above A time to learn a little bit more
the valuable academic and professional input from course A chance to gain an international about shipping services and logistic
work and lectures this is perhaps one of the most crucial in- degree as well as skills and knowl- firms that ship luggage around Eu-
sights we can take home with us from Europubhealth. edge which propel one to greater rope.
heights career-wise.
After all we have been through, it may sound easy and may A time to gain exposure and
seem that from now on we could live, work and adapt easily to A chance to meet and interact broaden your way of thinking.
any new situation, but in fact this is not the case. Yes, we have with peers from diverse backgrounds
become better and more easy-going people in many respects, and cultures. A chance to hear from And certainly a time to make
but cultural adaptation is a never-ending process. Neverthe- „the horse‘s mouth” about other friends! Friendships that cut across
less we can say that the more one is exposed to other cultures, countries you have formerly only the bounds of nationality, language,
the easier it seems to become to adapt to them. So we would read or heard about. ethnicity and religion.
recommend you all to take advantage of all situations where
you may learn from others. Open your minds and learn even A chance to enhance interper- I have no doubt that several other
the smallest thing from your classmates and colleagues. You sonal skills. Erasmus Mundus students would
will not be surprised anymore if one day you end up having have one or more items to add to
dinner sitting on the floor with your legs crossed, eating with A chance to visit popular cities in the list above because we have all
your hands while watching a bunch of “giant human apes” in Europe. had diverse experiences. And the list
a strange pile fighting over an oval shaped object and being goes on and on …..
cheered for it (Rugby World Cup, 2007). Just enjoy it. A chance to learn at least two
foreign languages, and observe new
customs and cultures.
A time to commit at least one About the author:
faux pas. Ifeoma Uwadia is a student of Eu-
About the authors: ropean Master in Informatics (EuMI)
A time to be most grateful that
Elsa Dufay, César Eduardo Wong Alcázar at the RWTH Aachen University, Ger-
there is a single currency, namely
and Ying Wu are second year students many.
of European Public Health Master at the
University of Rennes 1, France.
13

14. Between Cultures
Culture Is an Iceberg
Do we need special competence in dealing with
different cultures for an Erasmus Mundus programme
to be successful?
Being in an Erasmus Mundus pro- of intercultural sensitivity, which means Erasmus Mundus and intercultural issues
gramme is certainly a valuable op- we are aware of differences and are able
portunity for learning and growth. The to cope with them without hurting oth-
mobility that the programme provides is er people‘s (or even our own) feelings. Although more than 70% of the students surveyed confirmed
one of its most important characteris- There are also different levels of inter- that they became integrated in the local setting, there are
tics. Students gain educational experi- cultural sensitivity that signify the way, also cases where periods of stay in a country produce negative
ence in different countries with differ- in which we see our cultural profile in feelings. The reasons for this vary. Some universities offer op-
ing teaching and learning traditions and relation to the ones we are faced with. portunities to learn about the other student‘s culture, to get
also live in culturally diverse settings. According to Milton Bennett, these to know the local people and enjoy the difference. But some
In a student survey mobility was also perceptions range from ethnocentric are lacking in this area. Another reason could be that in some
rated as highly important academically. dispositions (where one, usually one‘s cases Erasmus Mundus students move through a high number
The students of Erasmus Mundus have own, culture is perceived as superior) to of countries with not enough time to learn to appreciate the
the opportunity to work in intercultural ethnorelative ones with integration be- local cultures, lacking the competence to do so. And overall
environments. However, having to both ing the highest level (meaning that one satisfaction with a particular location also influences the aca-
work and live in diverse contexts can is able to understand and incorporate demic success of the programme.
also be a challenge. In order to take full different cultural behaviour patterns).
advantage of the situation, intercultural Secondly, it is important to recognise There may also be problems working with such diversity. Al-
competence is both a prerequisite and a the intercultural learning potential this though most students have had experience working in in-
quality that can be improved while in an diversity provides. Knowledge and skills ternational teams, there may still be misunderstandings and
Erasmus Mundus programme. could be present in the different cul- challenges. This is especially due to the “iceberg” nature of
tural domains of the diverse people and culture, meaning many elements are actually hidden under the
societal structures we encounter. surface. It is extremely important to create a learning com-
What do we mean by Students of an Erasmus Mundus pro- munity within the programme, so that no one is left out. And
gramme are exposed to intercultural here we are not talking merely about being culturally sensi-
intercultural competence?
domains in two respects. Firstly, they tive and being able to work together, but about being able to
live in at least two countries during the foster intercultural learning. The diversity of fellow students
programme and thus are placed in a cul-
The concept has gained importance es- can be a great resource for learning and seeing things from a
turally different context 24 hours a day.
pecially lately as changes in societies different perspective as well as a great joy.
Secondly, their colleagues come from
undergoing a process of globalization, In these ways the concept of intercultural competence is of
various parts of the world with differ-
bring increasing diversity with possible key importance for the success of an Erasmus Mundus pro-
ent life biographies and work and study
culture clashes (not only of national cul- gramme. Not only can it minimise negative experiences while
backgrounds. The experience is valuable
tures). In various new policy documents living abroad and studying on intercultural teams, but also
and inspiring. However, problems might
intercultural competence is deemed a can help recognise the intercultural learning possibilities and
arise in both areas. Integration might
necessary component for life and work fully realise the potential of the programme and our experi-
pose a problem for students living in a
in a new and ever-changing society. In- ence. The intercultural competence that can develop within
foreign country.
tercultural competence consists firstly Erasmus Mundus is also a key characteristic needed both for
14 emanate | ISSUE 01

15. Between Cultures
working life in the labour market and for
knowing how to behave in a new cul-
ture. But it must be stated that merely
putting people from different countries
together in a foreign classroom is not
automatically going to produce inter-
cultural competence. The curriculum
designers and the participating univer-
sities need to focus specifically on this
issue. Ideally universities should offer
trainings in intercultural competence to
Erasmus Students as well as offer other
opportunities to get to know the new
cultures, integrate (both with the local
setting and within the class) and reflect
on their experience. This element should
be taken into account for the new pro-
gramme applications as well as evalua-
tion of the existing ones. Most impor-
tantly, we should reflect on our feelings
and behaviours during the whole of our
stay in an Erasmus Mundus programme
and look for ways to make it truly a life-
changing and learning adventure.
Culture can be compared to an iceberg, as many of its impor-
tant elements, like values, beliefs and habits are hidden under
the surface.
About the author:
Dane Lukic is a student of European
Master in Lifelong Learning at the Uni-
versity of Deusto, Spain.
15

16. Between Cultures
Oslo to Tampere to Aveiro
„You’re never too old to quit your job and enjoy a two-year
all-expense paid cultural education.”
I quit my job, sold my X-terra, rented ment. But there is pure goodness to
my town home, and loaned my cat to Oslo, as it sits right on the water and
a friend for 2 years. I said goodbye to has a good amount of forest that sur-
my dear friends, my family, and my tele- rounds the heart of the city. Norwe-
skies. I packed two suitcases and just gians value their time in the forest, as
like that, I was off. I had embarked on a the trails become super-highways on
journey that would fulfil my deep-root- the weekends. Families are seen pic-
ed desire to live in another country. nicking, picking berries and mushrooms,
After working for 10 years as an Admin- all the while just enjoying the company
istrator at the University of Colorado of one another. The Norwegians believe
at Boulder it was time to go back to that everyone deserves a break from
school. Sure, there was always the op- work, so all stores are closed on Sun-
tion to continue working and complete day; equal rights prevail in this socialist
my master‘s part-time but I decided country. There workdays are short and
it was time to be a full-time student the maternity leave long (1 year, paid!)
again. I was accepted to four U.S. pro- In my opinion, Norwegians know how to
grams but my dream offer came via live a family-filled, stress-free life.
e-mail one afternoon, “You have been You would think that Oslo and Tampere,
Some of Leasa‘s fellow Erasmus Mundus students.
chosen as an Erasmus Mundus scholar Finland would be analogous because
for the European Masters Programme in they are both Scandinavian countries,
Higher Education.” After reading the e- my new life with ease: living abroad, studying, and learning but I discovered many differences be-
mail about three times, I performed the to balance my studies with travels. But in this programme, tween the two. Tampere is not only a
classic “Leasa happy dance.” you do not have to travel to have an international experience. winter sports playground with cold-wa-
This two-year joint degree master‘s pro- Living in a student village with other international students ter swimming, ice-skating, cross-coun-
gram, European Higher Education Mas- affords you many life-lessons (as well as flashbacks from my try skiing, but it is also the sauna Mecca
ters Program (HEEM) is very unique, as college years). The dinner table is not only a smorgasbord of the world. There are more saunas
it travels to three different universities of international cuisine but it also serves as a classroom as than cars in Finland and a quick dip in
in Europe: the University of Oslo, Nor- we discuss everything from religion to food to politics. Luck- the frozen lake is a must for anyone who
way; the University of Tampere, Finland; ily (or unluckily) for me, with the current U.S. foreign affairs, is crazy enough to live in –30ºC weather
and the University of Aveiro, Portugal. I have also experienced a fair share of anti-American senti- with only 6 hours of daylight. The Finns
This means I get to live in not only one ment, which has been an education all in itself. I have come are friendly, yet shy and reserved, give
international city, but three. In the last to learn more about my country through the eyes of others, them some vodka and they will dance
semester our cohort class, which repre- than what I knew living there for 32 years. the night away. One thing that stood
sents 14 different countries, will split out for me was how all meals are sit-
off to write our individual theses in dif- down meals and if you are seen eating
I have also enjoyed getting to know the European cities
ferent cities around the globe. while on the run, you are a bit of a spec-
where I have lived: Oslo is known as, “The Most Expensive
The first semester I quickly settled into tacle. But be prepared to eat early, as
City in the World,” and there is nothing false about this state-
16 emanate | ISSUE 01

17. Leasa’s fellow-students’ international backgrounds provided
many lessons outside the classroom.
About the author:
Leasa Marie Weimer is a student of Eu-
ropean Master in Higher Education at
the University of Aveiro, Portugal.
lunch is served at 11 a.m. and dinner at 5 p.m., and you might
find Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer on your plate. In my view,
the Finns are simple people, living a cold (and sometimes very “ah-ha moments” are happening in
Impressions:
hot) simple life. my flat at the dinner table. I have a
www.leasa.blogspot.com group of flat-mates that aren‘t afraid
Our last semester before thesis-writing is in Aveiro, Portu- to speak their mind and voice their
gal; which is the epitome of a quaint European town. From opinion on Bush; how the west-
August 12, 2006
the first day I arrived in Aveiro, I loved it! From the nar- ern world has stripped culture from
row cobblestone streets, to the plethora of good (and cheap) After 40 hours of trains, planes, layo- many countries, how American poli-
wine, to the quaint canals with traditional Portuguese fishing vers, police walking around with ma- tics is based on money and just how
boats, I had come to the quintessence of a charming European chine guns, missing my flights, secu- much they think American domina-
town. The Portuguese language is manageable and necessary rity lines and subways I have finally tion sucks.
in this small town, the food is delectable, and the cafes are on arrived safe and sound in Oslo. Home
August 29, 2006
every corner. You do not need to take public transportation, sweet home?!
as everything is in walking distance. In Aveiro, the Portuguese Now off to study...we have 600 pages
August 25, 2006
people are full of life and enjoy the little luxuries of life; like a of reading to do in about one week
good bottle of Port wine and a delicious baccahlau (cod fish). Try saying this one; it‘s a mouth full... and a 10 page paper to write. Ahhhh,
So, my days are no longer filled with committee meetings, Forskningsparken. It‘s a subway stop the joys of being a student again!
budget reports, or advising students. Instead, I am a student: near campus. I love the Norwegian
November 28, 2006
a student of the globe, a student of life. It has been a blessing! language!
As for where this takes my career, time will tell, but I know for I just received my VISA for Finland!!
August 28, 2006
sure whatever is next will have an international perspective to Norway, Finland, and Portugal…Oh,
it. When you have experienced the depths of an international American BASHING! the life of an Erasmus Mundus stu-
life, it is too dull to go back and live a traditional American Forget the classroom...many of my dent scholar…I love it!!
lifestyle complete with eating on the run and working on Sun-
days.
17

18. Between Cultures
The Internationalisation
of Higher Education
EM’s role in creating knowledge-based economies
Higher education and research have courses between countries, and to
International students seeking
been the focus of tremendous interest move between them (leading to sim-
education abroad
in the last decades and this interest is ilar initiatives on a smaller scale in
expected to continue. The US is still the Asia and Latin America). (in millions)
forerunner, attracting a large portion of • The changing demand for knowledge
the international students. Competition in a fast paced and global social and 7.2
to attract the “the best and the bright- economic environment, creating
(projected)
est” students is increasing, and many a phenomenon called “knowledge 2.5
1.8
European institutions have become ma- based economies” (KBE).
jor players with the aim of creating a • Internationalisation and trade in 2001 2004 2025
knowledge-base. higher education.
Europe hosted 44 % (1.1 million) in-
ternational students in 2004, with the Furthermore, there are few general
UK (12%), Germany (11%), and France consequences as a result of the above:
(10%) contributing the major portion,
after the US (23%). 1. Increased mobility of The answer to the second question is obvious: the stakehold-
skilled workers. ers are the EU, international students, large corporations and
This trend towards international study 2. The expansion of international col- their stake holders, and the future market and market based
(see table) is welcomed around the laboration in education and the drive innovators.
globe by several institutions, both or- to develop export industries. The first question is a very important one that we all will have
ganised and unorganised, for example 3. The building of a more educated to answer individually based on how we see our future. We
the US (who rely on their reputation, workforce where there are fewer are bound to pay a price, i.e. our future, for the benefit of the
background and popularity), and large options for study. world. We have to decide if we are going to do it in our HOME
organisations like the EM, OECD, DAAD 4. The facilitation of cultural country or not.
and many others. understanding and promotion of
Some research indicates that present international experience. The ultimate motto is making the world a better and COM-
funding for higher education is be- 5. The encouragement of PETITIVE place to live and eliminating social and economic
ing distributed among most of these university-based research. disparities across the globe.
institutions in order to create network 6. The globalisation of education
points for present and future socio-eco- and the breaking down of
nomic development. Is this true? geographic barriers.
7. High competition for domestic higher
There are numerous theories that try education Institutions (HEIs) as they
to explain, support or contradict this start to face global competition.
claim:
Is the EM‘s strategy in line with today‘s About the author:
• The rise of emerging economies and and tomorrow‘s focus on the trend of Rajamanickam Baskaran Karthick is a student of International
the transformation of the interna- social and economic developments in Master in Industrial Management (IMIM) at the Royal Institute
tional business arena. financial and labour markets to create of Technology, Sweden.
• The Bologna process, which is de- parity among world nations? Who are
signed to make it easier to compare its stakeholders?
18 emanate | ISSUE 01

19. Between Cultures
What It Means to Be “Trini”
A new look at the Caribbean
In keeping with the theme “between
cultures”, a section of the magazine
could be devoted to highlighting dif-
ferent cultures and countries around
the world to inform the reader of the
unique characteristics of a given coun-
try. Therefore this feature article is about
what it means to be “Trini”. It describes
the people, customs and unique charac-
teristics of the Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago (T&T).
When people hear of the Caribbean they
think of white sandy beaches, clear blue
skies and cool breezes. That is just a
A view of Tobago. The Caribbean islands Trinidad and Tobago
hint of the Caribbean experience. Trini- provide both vibrant cities and natural beauty.
dad and Tobago, along with the other
islands, share a unique history starting
with the native Amerindian inhabitants Ato Boldon and Hasely Crawford. It is
troleum and petrochemicals. Below are some quick facts on
and extending to all the different Euro- also the birthplace of Calypso music and
Trinidad and Tobago (from The World Factbook):
pean powers that ruled the region, the the steel pan, which is widely claimed to
British being the last in the case of T&T. be the only acoustic musical instrument
invented during the 20th century.
Location: Caribbean, islands between the
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago What makes Trinidad and Tobago spe-
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
is an archipelagic state in the south- cial is the diversity and warmth of the
Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
ern Caribbean. It consists of two main people who live here. We all come from
Geographic coordinates:
islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and 21 different backgrounds; have different
11 00 N, 61 00 W
smaller islands. Trinidad is the larger religions, and share different beliefs
Area: 5,128 sq km
and livelier of the islands. It is the in- and we enjoy and celebrate these dif-
Main Language: English
dustrial giant of the Caribbean with an ferences. Whether Christmas, Diwali
Climate: tropical; rainy season
exciting nightlife, a robust energy sector or Eid everyone celebrates it together.
(June to December)
and a growing manufacturing industry. This is what being a Trini is all about.
Highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Just two hours away from Trinidad by We are proud of our history and of what
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt.
fast ferry, or 15 minutes by air, the is- we have achieved as a nation and we
Pitch Lake, on Trinidad’s south-
land of Tobago offers a change of pace. are always willing to share this with the
western coast, is the world’s largest
For the nature lover, Tobago is home to world. Bursting with spirit and a diverse
natural reservoir of asphalt
the oldest protected rainforest in the mix of cultural activities, warm people,
Population: 1,056,608 (July 2007 est.)
Western Hemisphere and, for those with eco adventure and culinary delights,
Religions: Roman Catholic (26%), Hindu (22%),
an adventurous spirit, the waters sur- Trinidad and Tobago has something for
Anglican (8%), Muslim (6%),
rounding the island host stunning coral everyone.
Seventhday Adventist (4%),
reefs teeming with marine life. Presbyterian, Jehovah’s Witnesses
and Methodist are among the About the author:
Officially Trinidadians or Tobagonians, smaller faiths. Salys Sultan graduated from the Euro-
the people from Trinidad and Tobago are pean Master in Informatics (EuMI) in
often informally referred to as “Trinba- 2007. She recently returned to Trinidad
gonians” or “Trinis”. Unlike most of the Home of Carnival, the greatest show on earth, Trinidad and and Tobago and has been working at the
English-speaking Caribbean, Trinidad Tobago has also given the world several top athletes, including University of the West Indies as a lec-
and Tobago is a primarily industrialised record breaking cricketer Brian Lara and star football striker turer in the Department of Electrical and
country whose economy is based on pe- Dwight Yorke, the World Cup 2007 Soca Warriors, and runners Computer Engineering.
19

20. Between Cultures
Intercultural Dialo
The Year of
How does Erasmus Mundus contribute to intercultural dialogue?
“Now I am already a glo- “Erasmus Mundus gave me more con-
bal citizen.” fidence, it made me understand issues
from different perspectives. We had
students from all continents of the world
and especially apart from the course it
was great to meet, make friends and un-
derstand their culture.”
Reuben Kyama from Kenya, Alumnus of Jayaraj Manepalli from India, student of
Erasmus Mundus Masters - Journalism European Master in Global Studies
and Media within Globalization: the Eu-
ropean Perspective
With Bulgaria and Romania joining acquiring intercultural competence to act and communicate national project. Learning to see things
the European Union in 2007, the now successfully in the globalised world. from different perspectives, recognising
27 member states form an economic In this context, internationalisation of European Higher Edu- that one‘s own way of problem solving
and political community of unprec- cation, actively supported by the European Union, contributes is not universal, breaking with one‘s
edented diversity in culture, languages, significantly to enhancing intercultural dialogue. With knowl- own stereotypical way of thinking and
ethnic groups and religions. Highlight- edge being the key to competitiveness of societies in the mod- opening one‘s mind to the ideas of oth-
ing common values while respecting ern world, no justice in globalisation and no balanced world ers foster an innovative climate.
this diversity is a major challenge for development can be achieved without sharing it. International
European policy. Additionally, intensive exchange of students and scholars as well as collective scien- When studying within an educational
exchange with the entire world in the tific research lead to dissemination of knowledge thus foster- system different from one‘s own and
fields of trade, education and politics is ing innovation and problem solving on a global level. living in a country where many things
an indispensable aspect of the commu- Studying abroad, which is now possible through higher edu- don’t function in the familiar way, it is
nity‘s reality. cation‘s internationalisation, provides students with opportu- the ability to adapt to the new environ-
Fostering intercultural dialogue is a stra- nities to gather first-hand intercultural experiences necessary ment and to expand one‘s own reper-
tegic priority of the European Union and for their future working world. The simple instance of prepar- toire of action that becomes crucial for
many existing European Commission ing a presentation in a multicultural group for example can achieving goals in the particular coun-
policies such as lifelong learning, asy- exhibit diverse working habits and the different roles time and try. Managing this successfully turns
lum rules or integration of immigrants planning play in various cultures. Whereas a German might out to be decisive for a future interna-
are dedicated to intercultural under- prefer to begin preparing the presentation early and to plan tional career, where frequent changes in
standing. Within the “European Year of the distribution of work as meticulously as possible, an Ital- the country one lives and works in are
Intercultural Dialogue 2008”, the Com- ian could favour working on the presentation while having a common. Moreover, communicating in
mission will intensify these actions by coffee with the other group members and talking about plans a foreign language within an interna-
launching information campaigns and for the weekend. A Mexican is likely to refuse detailed plan- tional environment not only improves
supporting intercultural projects on both ning and a Russian would wonder why it‘s necessary to be- one‘s language skills, but also supports
national and local levels. Main goals of gin so early. Whereas a Chinese student might expect exact the development of intercultural com-
the European Year activities include instructions from his or her academic teacher, an American munication skills, such as understand-
raising awareness of the necessity for would insist on shaping the presentation independently. This ing non-verbal signals and developing a
intercultural dialogue among all people experience of achieving a common goal while coping with non-insulting way of articulating criti-
living in Europe and supporting them in different working practices is crucial for managing an inter- cism.
20 emanate | ISSUE 01