​​STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA – Nearly 100 participants from over 10 different countries gathered on September 18, 2025, for the Spring Intercultural Symposium at Stellenbosch University, a day-long event dedicated to showcasing and strengthening intercultural engagement across the university community. Hosted by the  UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competence, the symposium also featured a UNESCO Story Circles Train-the-Trainer Workshop in the morning, equipping participants with practical tools for fostering intercultural dialogue.
 

The Symposium began with a warm welcome from Stellenbosch University Rector & Vice Chancellor Professor Deresh Ramjugernath, who underscored the institution's commitment to inclusive excellence and intercultural learning. The Rector's opening remarks set a powerful tone for the day, highlighting the importance of intercultural competence in higher education and beyond. Dr. Darla K. Deardorff, UNESCO Chairholder on Intercultural Competence, provided a welcome as well as an overview of intercultural competence and inspired participants to mperative of embracing our shared humanity.

The morning UNESCO Story Circles workshop was led by Werner de Wit and Deardorff and provided hands-on facilitation training to university staff, students, and community partners, including a team from Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI).. UNESCO Story Circles, developed through UNESCO, is a structured and research-based method for cultivating key intercultural competencies such as empathy, listening for understanding, and building deeper human connections in diverse groups.

Following the workshop, the afternoon symposium featured seven engaging presentations from across the university that highlighted real-world applications of intercultural work in a wide range of university contexts:

• University Residences – fostering intercultural dialogue and community living through UNESCO Story Circles.- Me Joy Petersen
  
   
• Human Resources – promoting cultural inclusion within the university workplace through principles of ubuntu.-Dr Katlego Letlonkane
  
   
• Engineering – incorporating intercultural learning through UNESCO Story Circles in team-based design education.- Me Faika Haroun
  
   
• Drama – exploring intercultural expression and social justice through the arts. -Dr Liezl Dick, Me Monica du Toit, Me Mtumisang Motsisi.
  
   
• Academic Staff – advancing inclusive teaching and co-curricular learning.- Dr Vernita Beukes
  
   
• Work with Refugee Students – a powerful student-led presentation on supporting refugee learners. -Me Ornela Meri
  
   
• Law and the Prison Initiative – an inspiring example of using joint education in the prisons for community engagement and transformation. - Dr Mary Nel​

“This symposium not only showcased the breadth of intercultural work already underway at Stellenbosch University, but also offered a powerful platform for reflection, connection, and new collaboration," said Dr. Deardorff. “It is inspiring to see so many individuals across disciplines taking active steps to foster greater intercultural understanding and belonging."

The symposium was part of the ongoing work of the UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competence, based at Stellenbosch University, and aligns with the global mission of strengthening intercultural dialogue as a pathway to peace, inclusion, and sustainable development.

Participants were also invited to join the World Council on Intercultural and Global Competence, a key partner of the UNESCO Chair. The Council's global community hosts over 20 active working groups, including regional, practitioner, graduate student, and Story Circles facilitator groups.

Looking ahead, the UNESCO Chair invites all participants to join upcoming initiatives including the 2025 Intercultural Competence Conference in Rabat, the monthly webinar series entitled “Exploring African Voices on Intercultural Competence", and the 2026 UNESCO Chair Conference next year in Senegal.

For more information about the UNESCO Chair on Intercultural Competence, visit:https://www.sun.ac.za/english/unescochair-icc/
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