Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski will coordinate a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) entitled “Multilingualism, Inclusive Learning and Intercultural Dialogue”, in partnership with the T4EU universities.

The programme is aimed at a wide range of participants interested in gaining more experience in the field, including students, PhD students, researchers, university teachers, and administrative staff. It is also part of the T4EU incoming PhD track in Multilingualism, Educational and Language Policies.

Focus of the programme

This Blended Intensive Programme aims to explore how multilingualism, inclusive learning practices and intercultural dialogue can strengthen participation, equity and mutual understanding in diverse educational and social environments.

Combining theory with hands-on practice, the programme will support participants in examining language as a resource, engaging with cultural and linguistic diversity and developing practical strategies for fostering inclusion in academic and institutional settings.

Through interactive sessions, collaborative tasks and reflective activities, participants will learn about embracing otherness, facilitating intercultural communication and designing learning environments that uphold European values such as human dignity, respect for diversity, equality and democratic participation.

General objective

The course aims to empower learners and educators to navigate and contribute to diverse, multilingual societies by developing advanced competencies in multilingual communication, inclusive pedagogical practices and intercultural dialogue.

It also seeks to foster equitable learning environments where linguistic and cultural diversity is recognised as a resource, promoting social cohesion, mutual understanding and active citizenship.

Specific objectives

The specific objectives of the programme are:

  1. to promote participants’ understanding of linguistic diversity as an asset for learning, creativity and social participation;
  2. to equip participants with strategies for supporting multilingual students and managing linguistically diverse environments;
  3. to build practical skills for designing inclusive curricula, assessments and teaching methods that meet diverse learner needs;
  4. to develop the ability to identify and address barriers to participation related to language, culture, disability, socio-economic background or learning differences;
  5. to promote social cohesion and democratic values.

Activities

The programme will include lectures, presentations and individual and group hands-on activities, including participants’ own mini-research projects.

Expected learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, participants are expected to be able to:

  1. explain core concepts related to multilingualism, inclusive pedagogy and intercultural dialogue;
  2. identify the role of linguistic and cultural diversity in fostering equitable and socially cohesive learning environments;
  3. describe key European values relevant to education, such as non-discrimination, cultural and linguistic diversity, and social inclusion, and understand their implications for curriculum design;
  4. apply inclusive communication and multilingual strategies, such as translanguaging, code-switching awareness and culturally responsive mediation;
  5. facilitate intercultural dialogue using tools for perspective-taking, conflict de-escalation and collaborative meaning-making;
  6. design or revise learning activities, syllabi, or institutional practices to better reflect multilingual and intercultural principles;
  7. evaluate case studies of inclusive and non-inclusive practices and propose evidence-based improvements;
  8. demonstrate openness, curiosity and respect toward linguistic and cultural otherness;
  9. reflect critically on personal assumptions, biases and communication practices;
  10. commit to promoting inclusive, value-based education aligned with European principles of equality, dignity and diversity.

Syllabus

The topics to be covered include:

  1. Introduction to multilingualism: language ideologies, power and policies;
  2. Intercultural communication and intercultural dialogue;
  3. Multilingualism and intercultural communication in digital environments;
  4. Inclusive classroom practices;
  5. Research into intercultural and inclusive contexts.

ECTS

This Blended Intensive Programme will award 5 ECTS credits.

Timeline

Virtual component:

  • Introductory online lectures on interculturality and civic engagement – 21 April 2026
  • Summary presentation and discussion of the results of the participants’ own mini-research – 2 June 2026
  • Wrapping up and closing of the BIP – 2 June 2026

Dates: 21 April 2026 and 2 June 2026
Time: 9:30–14:00

Physical mobility on-site:

  • Place: Sofia
  • Dates: 11–15 May 2026
  • Arrival day: 10 May 2026
  • Departure day: 16 May 2026

Apply on bip.erasmus@admin.uni-sofia.bg

Sofia University is Organising a Blended Intensive Programme on “Multilingualism, Inclusive Learning and Intercultural Dialogue”