School/Directorate: Cardiff School of Management and Cardiff School of Technology
Key theme: Links directly to celebrating cultural diversity and inclusion at the University; Promoting integration between home and international students; Support the Global element of the Cardiff Met EDGE developing students as global citizens.
Impact and Achievements:
Connecting Cultures project was aimed at celebrating cultural diversity, fostering understanding, and building bridges amongst different nationalities represented within the Cardiff Metropolitan University community.
The project comprised of two mini-events held on the 1st and 23rd of March 2023 respectively and a main event to wrap up the whole project which was held on the 31st of March, 2023. The mini-events covered a series of interviews with student representatives from five different countries (Nepal, Fiji, Nigeria, India and Lebanon) along with participants from the host country (United Kingdom). The wrap-up/main event on the other hand was a very colourful outing that accorded students and all attendees the opportunity to meet, mingle, bond and learn of their different cultures for free.
It included activities such as but not limited to food fair, fashion parade, cultural songs, dances, language exchange sessions and a brief speech on Connecting Cultures amidst Diversity by Dr. Chris Miller.
The project successfully engaged over 80 participants which was inclusive of the interviewees and other attendees; representing more than 15 cultures. Feedback from participants and attendees was very positive, with an improved understanding and appreciation of other cultures, reducing stereotypes, and fostering relationships among representatives of the different countries.
A tentative follow-up plan is to establish partnerships with other student bodies/organisations so as to foster the continuity and possible expansion of the project.
You can view all of the recorded sessions and mini events via the project’s designated
YouTube Channel.