In today’s academic environment, effective cross-cultural communication is indispensable. Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice recognizes this need and offers language courses for its staff also during the 2024/2025 academic year. These are not conventional language courses but are integrated into a university development initiative called the I-I Project: Integration and Interculturality at UPJŠ. This project is led by the Vice-Rector for Internationalization, doc. Ing. Silvia Ručinská, PhD., university professor.
As in previous years, the courses are administered at and conducted by lecturers from the Faculty of Arts at UPJŠ, ensuring a high standard of professional quality. With extensive experience in organizing similar educational initiatives, the Faculty aims not only to enhance participants’ language proficiency but also to bolster their intercultural skills. This dual focus represents a significant step toward fostering a welcoming academic environment for the growing number of international students and guests at UPJŠ.
This initiative goes beyond language acquisition to address the challenges posed by the globalization of education. Last academic year, the courses were enriched by a workshop on intercultural communication, led by Mgr. Ing. Ingrid Madárová, PhD., from the Centre of Language Training at the Faculty of Arts, UPJŠ.
By improving their language and intercultural competencies, UPJŠ staff are better equipped to support international students and researchers, facilitating their integration into the university community. In the long term, this effort enhances the overall academic environment. Successful integration into the academic and social fabric of UPJŠ depends on staff readiness to navigate not only linguistic but also cultural differences. Therefore, language education with an emphasis on intercultural competencies ensures that UPJŠ remains at the forefront of internationalization, creating an inclusive and open environment for all.
In the 2023/2024 academic year, 93 university staff members participated in the training during the winter semester, with 91 joining in the summer semester. These numbers mark a significant milestone in the project’s implementation. The regular, face-to-face teaching sessions in small groups have proven highly effective, as evidenced by positive feedback from participants. Trainees have not only improved their ability to communicate with international students and colleagues but also gained valuable tools for addressing intercultural challenges.
Looking ahead to the 2024/2025 academic year, participants are expected to further refine their language skills to meet the demands of an increasingly international academic environment. A systematic evaluation of the training process will continue, ensuring that teaching methodologies are optimized and tailored to participants’ needs. The sustained interest in these courses is a testament to their value, and we are delighted to see this initiative thrive.
Mgr. Katarína Hajduková
Language Training Coordinator
Faculty of Arts, UPJŠ in Košice
