LIV: Local and International Global Goals Project - Culture as a catalyst for building inclusive, innovative, and resilient communities

While the Unit for Experiential Learning’s work is embedded in the Transformative Student Experience, it also strongly focuses on Collaborative Teaching and Learning, Fostering Purposeful Partnerships, and Inclusive Networks. To this end, the Unit partnered with VUC Storstrøm, a Danish adult learning organisation, on a project focused on lifelong learning and international curriculum development.

The Globus Project funds the project, which is a Local and International Global Goals (LIV) project with the theme "Culture as Catalyst for Building Inclusive, Innovative, and Resilient Communities."

Students and staff from VUC Storstrøm visited SU from 02-08 April 2024 and again from 04-09 September 2024. The first cohort of the Danish-SU student exchange involved 10 Danish students, two Danish educators, six SU staff members and 10 students, while the exchange for cohort two took place from 04-09 September 2024, with the same number of Danish participants and seven SU staff and 10 students participating. Students came from a cross-section of faculties, including the faculties of Science, Medical Health Sciences, Theology, Economic and Management Sciences, Law, Education, and Arts and Social Sciences.

The theoretical approach used in this experiential learning opportunity included Paulo Freire’s (1970) and Mezirow’s (2009) work on social justice and transformational learning, as well as Paul and Elder’s (2020) Critical Thinking Model and Kolb’s (2014) theory of experiential learning, which focuses on learning by transforming experience into knowledge.

The following objectives were set for the project:

• Building a global north-south connection by exploring similar conditions within the educational systems that limit social mobility among marginalised, underserved people.
• Developing relational capability between individuals with similar life chances and backgrounds so participants can understand the similarities and differences in global contexts toward recognising human dignity and belonging irrespective of social positioning.
• Expanding the LIV Learning Partners' worldviews and perceptions so that individuals contribute to building a collective social consciousness and a global community of shared human dignity, peace and prosperity for all.
• To explore how to respond to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDGs 04: Quality Education; 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; and 13: Climate Action.