Sustainable Global Competence in Swiss Higher Education
Marking the end of the Movetia-funded project Developing a Sustainable Global Competence Certificate in Switzerland, the Swiss Global Competence Lab is excited to host an international symposium entitled Sustainable Global Competence in Swiss Higher Education on 15 & 16 May 2025, in Lugano.
The event will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to explore key topics pertaining to global competence development, including the roles of plurilingualism and virtual exchange.
We invite you to join us for an engaging event filled with plenary sessions, roundtable and panel discussions.
Your participation will be invaluable as we work together to shape the future of global competence in higher education.
We invite you to join us for an engaging event filled with plenary sessions, roundtable and panel discussions.
Your participation will be invaluable as we work together to shape the future of global competence in higher education.
Thursday 15 and Friday 16 May 2025, USI-SUPSI Campus EST, Lugano-Viganello
The event will be held in English.
8:30 Arrival and registration, A0.01 Sala Polivalente
9:00 Welcome by Annick Catella, Head of SUPSI International Office, and opening address by Daniela Willi-Piezzi, Director of undergraduate and graduate studies SUPSI
9.30 Welcome from the SGCL members and presentation of the Movetia-funded project "Developing a Sustainable Global Competence Certificate (GCC) in Switzerland": Outline of the project and framework, elements of the certificate and potential challenges
Prof. Dr. Patrick Studer, Professor of Language Management and Globalisation, ZHAW
10:30 Coffee Break (register for your discussion session)
11:00 Keynote: Internationalisation of Higher Education for Society
Jennifer Valcke, Educational Developer of the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
12:15 Standing lunch at the foyer, A0.02
13:30 Panel discussion:
The Significance of a Global Competence Certificate – Current Practices, Challenges, Emerging Trends, and Impact
Moderator: Laurent Dutoit, HES-SO
Panelists: Michela Ornati, SUPSI, Susan Schärli-Lim ZHAW, Elisabeth Paliot, HEIG-VD, Ellen Leister, BFH
14:45 Parallel discussion sessions:
9:00 Welcome by Annick Catella, Head of SUPSI International Office, and opening address by Daniela Willi-Piezzi, Director of undergraduate and graduate studies SUPSI
9.30 Welcome from the SGCL members and presentation of the Movetia-funded project "Developing a Sustainable Global Competence Certificate (GCC) in Switzerland": Outline of the project and framework, elements of the certificate and potential challenges
Prof. Dr. Patrick Studer, Professor of Language Management and Globalisation, ZHAW
10:30 Coffee Break (register for your discussion session)
11:00 Keynote: Internationalisation of Higher Education for Society
Jennifer Valcke, Educational Developer of the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
12:15 Standing lunch at the foyer, A0.02
13:30 Panel discussion:
The Significance of a Global Competence Certificate – Current Practices, Challenges, Emerging Trends, and Impact
Moderator: Laurent Dutoit, HES-SO
Panelists: Michela Ornati, SUPSI, Susan Schärli-Lim ZHAW, Elisabeth Paliot, HEIG-VD, Ellen Leister, BFH
14:45 Parallel discussion sessions:
- Session 1: How are we assessing reflexivity in the GCC?
Facilitators: Jacqueline Bürki BFH and Nadja Spillmann, ZHAW - Session 2: Quality considerations in a Global Competence Certificate Programme
Facilitator: Patrick Studer, ZHAW - Session 3: What constitutes international exchange / experience?
Facilitators: Annick Catella, SUPSI and Sandra McGury, ZHAW
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8:30 Arrival and registration, A0.01 Sala Polivalente
9:00 Welcome and program of the day
Keynote: Virtual Exchange and International Experience: Exploring its Impact on Global Learning
Robert O’Dowd, Professor for English Studies at the University of León, Spain
10.15 Coffee Break
10:30 Virtual Exchange in the GCC framework – Presentation and Q&A
Moderator: Jacqueline Bürki, BFH and Sandra McGury, ZHAW
11:30 Building Global Competence: Implementing a Sustainable GCC at SUPSI
Panel discussion with SUPSI agents
Leandro Bitetti, Annick Catella, Michele Cutolo, Daniela Kappler, Luana Luchetti, Michela Ornati, Sandro Pedrazzini, Daina Matise Schubiger, Marie-Hélène Tramèr-Rudolphe
12:45 Summary and goodbye
13:15 End of the symposium
9:00 Welcome and program of the day
Keynote: Virtual Exchange and International Experience: Exploring its Impact on Global Learning
Robert O’Dowd, Professor for English Studies at the University of León, Spain
10.15 Coffee Break
10:30 Virtual Exchange in the GCC framework – Presentation and Q&A
Moderator: Jacqueline Bürki, BFH and Sandra McGury, ZHAW
11:30 Building Global Competence: Implementing a Sustainable GCC at SUPSI
Panel discussion with SUPSI agents
Leandro Bitetti, Annick Catella, Michele Cutolo, Daniela Kappler, Luana Luchetti, Michela Ornati, Sandro Pedrazzini, Daina Matise Schubiger, Marie-Hélène Tramèr-Rudolphe
12:45 Summary and goodbye
13:15 End of the symposium
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Keynote speakers
- Jennifer Valcke, Educational Developer of the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
- Robert O’Dowd, Professor for English Studies at the University of León, Spain
SGCL consortium:
- Jacqueline Bürki, Global and Intercultural Management lecturer, BFH
- Annick Catella, Head of International Office, SUPSI
- Laurent Dutoit, Deputy Vice-Rector Teaching, Head of the Studies and Training Department HES-SO
- Dr. Sandra McGury, Senior Research Associate, ILC Institute of Language Competence, ZHAW
- Prof. Dr. Patrick Studer, Professor of Language Management and Globalisation, ZHAW
- Susanne Walheim, Scientific Officer Internationalization of Curriculum, SUPSI
Registration deadline: Friday 25th April. Registration
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The Swiss Global Competence Lab (SGCL) is a transdisciplinary platform bringing together experts from diverse fields to foster cooperation and innovation in internationalization of higher education.
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