This course develops students’ skills for effective communication in online and pluricultural environments, with a focus on intercultural competence, digital etiquette, and adapting communication styles across platforms.
About the course
Content
This course equips students with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to communicate effectively in diverse, online, and pluricultural contexts. Emphasizing both verbal and non-verbal communication, the course enables students to explore the impact of cultural norms, language differences, and digital etiquette in virtual interactions. Through case studies, critical incidences, and collaborative projects, learners will develop strategies for overcoming communication barriers, fostering inclusivity, reflecting critically on situations, and building intercultural competence in professional and academic settings.
Learning outcomes
After completing this course, students will have the…
- Ability to recognize and adapt to communication styles in diverse online settings.
- Ability to apply appropriate language and tone across digital platforms.
- Capacity to critically analyze and reflect on communication challenges and pluricultural misunderstandings.
- Capacity for effective participation in group work in online, pluricultural contexts.
- Ability to identify and overcome communication barriers related to language, culture, and technology.
Teaching format
- one 100-minute synchronous session per week
- synchronous group work activities (self-regulating groups)
- self-study activities
- combination of theoretical approaches with practical project work
Programme
Lesson 1: Introduction to intercultural communication and digital communication norms
Lesson 2: Building Virtual Teamwork and Inclusion
Lesson 3: Culture and Communication Styles
Lesson 4: Digital Communication Platforms and Etiquette
Lesson 5: Language Use and Clarity in Plurilingual Contexts
Lesson 6: Managing Misunderstandings and (Digital) Conflict
Lesson 7: Visual Communication and Pluricultural Sensitivity
Lesson 8: Narrative strategies that resonate in different cultural contexts
Lesson 9: Designing interaction strategies
Lesson 10: Pulling together and delivering the campaign with sensitivity and clarity
Lesson 11: Critical reflection on learning and growth in intercultural competence
Lesson 12-13: Oral assessment
Assessment
Form of assessment:
- Reflective journal
- Interactive analysis discussion
Timing for assessment:
- Regular journal entries max. 5 pages
- Discussions approx. 10 minutes per student
Further requirements for assessment:
- Regular attendance and active participation, simulations of situations of online interaction
Calculation of the examination mark: pass/fail
Lecturers
Ashley Chandler
Course dates
Academic Year: 2025/26
Course schedule: one online session each Wednesday from 12:15-13:55 (CET) starting October 29, 2025 until February 11, 2026. No class on November 5, December 24, and December 31, 2025. Regular participation required (no more than two absences)
Teaching and learning materials available on Moodle
Specific timeframe, incl. all (a-)synchronous course phases: October 29, 2025 – February 11, 2026
How to register?
! Before application: Please check with your home faculty / programme if the course can be integrated in your curriculum in order to ensure recognition of the credits / ECTS obtained !
Entry requirements: None
Selection of course participants will be based on entry requirements and available course capacities. Selection will refer to a “first come first serve” principle across partner universities, i.e. the first applications from each university will be selected to increase diversity in the course.
Transcript of Records will be available to students by the end of February 2026.
Students from all ENLIGHT partner universities are eligible to participate. Students who meet the requirements mentioned above can apply directly: [application link will follow soon].
The host university will select the permitted number of students, inform the students as soon as possible following the application deadline (30th September 2025).
Unsuccessful students will be placed on a waiting list and may get a place in case of drop outs at a later stage.