Representing the project, students Erik Šámal (Czech Republic), Vasiliki Kyrizopoulou (Greece), Tat Esranur (Turkey) and Glender Jabez (Kenya) introduced visitors to the concept behind "global.classrooms" and shared how participating in the initiative has contributed to their intercultural learning and personal development.
Run by the University of Passau's Language Centre and supported by the Teacher Education Centre, "global.classrooms: Educational Journeys" is a peer-led international course in which students share first-hand perspectives on education around the world. Through presentations, discussions and collaborative learning activities, participants explore different education systems, compare classroom experiences and develop intercultural competence in an open and collaborative learning environment, while practising the use of English as a lingua franca for international communication.
As active contributors to "global.classrooms", international students become valued co-creators of teaching and learning. Their educational experiences, cultural backgrounds and perspectives enrich the learning environment for everyone. The project enables German and international students to exchange ideas, learn from one another and develop the intercultural and linguistic competence needed for studying, working and living in an international environment.
The project also reflects the University of Passau's commitment to internationalisation and its vision of a Welcome University, where international students are encouraged to participate actively in university life and engage with the wider community. Presented as part of the AYCD volunteering programme, "global.classrooms" demonstrates how student-led initiatives promote dialogue, mutual understanding and meaningful connections between international and German students, both on campus and beyond.
Looking ahead, the organisers plan to open selected "global.classrooms" sessions to the wider Passau community and to schools in the region. By inviting local residents, teachers and pupils to engage with students' educational journeys, the project aims to strengthen dialogue between the University and the community while encouraging intercultural exchange beyond the campus.
Since its launch in 2024, "global.classrooms" has featured 34 student presentations representing 26 countries and regions across five continents. By giving students a platform to share their experiences and perspectives, the project continues to build bridges between cultures and foster global awareness throughout the University of Passau community.
"global.classrooms" in figures:
- 34 student presentations
- 26 countries and regions represented
- 5 continents: Europe, Africa, Asia, North America and South America
Countries represented include Albania, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Cuba, the Czech Republic, England, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the United States and Uzbekistan.