Purdue InterCultural Learning Community of Practice (PICLCoP)
What is PICLCoP?
Many faculty and staff members have a passion for or a responsibility for the intercultural learning (ICL) of students, regardless of whether ICL is in their job description. As these intercultural practitioners from various disciplines work to make the embedded learning outcomes a reality, they can rely on the PICLCoP to provide an empowering community of practice that offers opportunities for life-long learning and continual ongoing engagement with intercultural learning. PICLCoP creates a welcoming environment for members on all Purdue campuses and beyond, a space where they can practice and increase their own intercultural skills, share what they have been doing in the field, support and mentor each other, and engage in learning opportunities that stimulate research, reinforce innovation, and create a sense of community.
Congratulations to those who earned our first-ever PICLCoP badge!
LifeLong Learning Badge
The Lifelong Learning Badge was granted by Purdue University's Center for Intercultural Learning, Mentorship, Assessment and Research to those who attended at least three of the five professional development sessions on lifelong learning offered by the Purdue InterCultural Learning Community of Practice (PICLCoP) in Fall 2024.
Recipients were required to attend and participate in at least three of the following 90-minute sessions:
(1) Lifelong Intercultural Learning: What Is It & Why Would You Want to Measure It? (2) Critical Reflection for Personal and Professional Growth (3) A Facilitators’ Guide to Using the Attitudes Skills and Knowledge Short Scale, Part 1: Designing Intercultural Learning Experiences (4) The Lifelong Necessity for Cultural Humility (5) A Facilitators’ Guide to Using the Attitudes Skills and Knowledge Short Scale, Part 2: Evaluating Intercultural Curricular and Program-Level Goals
Please see this HubICLCollectionfor the learning objectives for each session.
Those who earned the Lifelong Learning Badge are:
Recipients of the Intercultural Learning Badge
Name
Title
Department
College
Vanesa Canete Jurado
Assistant Professor, Spanish and Portuguese
School of Languages and Cultures
Liberal Arts
Giuseppina Grande
Lecturer, Italian
School of Languages and Cultures
Liberal Arts
Catherine Lopez Barajas
Student Intern
Purdue Policy Research Institute
Annalisa Mosca
Senior Lecturer
School of Languages and Cultures
Liberal Arts
Jaclyn Palm
Lead Academic Advisor
Hospitality and Tourism Management
Health and Human Sciences
Michele Shultz
PhD student
Gifted Education, Educational Studies
Education
Spring 2025: Bridging Across Borders
Many sessions are virtual and open to those not on the Purdue-West Lafayette campus.
Building Bridges with STEM Students through Experiential Activities
Intercultural learning is vital for STEM students navigating a globalized workforce. This session highlights a series of five intercultural learning workshops embedded in an Engineering Management course in Fall 2024, developed by Intercultural Research Specialist Aparajita Jaiswal and Intercultural Learning Specialist Kelsey Patton. Designed to foster collaboration, cultural awareness, and adaptability in multicultural teams, the workshops were part of a course led by Eric VandeVoorde, Senior Director of Professional Master's Programs in Engineering. Eric will discuss the course design, the intersection of intercultural competence and STEM/engineering management, and the workshops' impact on students. Aparajita and Kelsey will share reflections, feedback, and workshop data, along with strategies for adapting these activities to various contexts. Participants will engage in an experiential activity to understand its objectives and outcomes, followed by a discussion on tailoring such approaches to different disciplines. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for integrating intercultural learning into their teaching or training, equipping students with essential skills for global collaboration and innovation. This session aims to inspire educators to enhance intercultural competence development through experiential learning in STEM and beyond.
An edited video of the community of practice session is below.
Bridging Through ICL in Study Abroad and International Partnerships and Exchanges
Adding Intercultural Learning into a Study Abroad Itinerary Facilitated by Michael Bittinger
As educators, we want students to engage in powerful, transformative experiences. The allure of travel is attractive but can cast a powerful spell – that learning spontaneously occurs just by arriving overseas. In truth, the airline and hospitality industries are not cultural bridge-builders. By blending the excitement of travel with intentional pedagogical approaches to experiential education, meaningful intercultural development can be achieved. In this session we’ll take an educational journey together. You’ll experience intentional elements of our itinerary and curriculum that create meaningful, assessable growth. Join us to see how easy it can be to plug them into your own endeavors abroad, or even on-campus.
Building a Bridge: Intercultural Learning within International Experiences in Pharmacy Practice Facilitated by Ellen Schellhase
This session will address intercultural learning during orientation sessions and international clinical experiences. A case example will demonstrate how learning activities have been embedded within both didactic and experiential settings. Faculty will share examples of intercultural learning activities used to engage learners.
Canceled: Fostering Intercultural Competence through Peer Mentorship Programs: Insights and Impacts
Please join us for the following at the same day, time, and Zoom link:
Building Bridges of Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Using Emojis
The ubiquity of emojis makes them an accessible vehicle for teaching verbal and nonverbal intercultural communication for both the resistant and the avid learner. Paired with various communication models, the content of this session will have even the most reluctant participant chiming in about when they’ve been misunderstood or have misunderstood someone else—even when communicating in a first language. Adding in culture to the communication models, students in all stages of intercultural development will be able to see and explore differences and similarities in cross-cultural communication.
This is a repeat of a presentation given at the 2025 WISE conference, sponsored by Wake Forest Global, and at the NAFSA IV, V, and VI regional conferences, with expanded content for PICLCoP and the virtual context.
Why build a connected culture? In a world of possibilities that is ever-changing, breaking down silos and building a connected culture is essential for facilitating collaboration across the business, education, and community sectors. This World Café dialogue is an opportunity for participants to explore innovation and what it means to be connected while breaking down siloed barriers. The synergy of cross-sector worldview perspectives can lead to groundbreaking solutions and ignite a positive ripple effect in our interconnected world. Together, we will navigate transitions, share ideas, and ponder what it truly means to build bridges for a sustainable future.
Cross-Cultural Kids (CCKs) grow up navigating multiple cultural environments, shaping unique perspectives that challenge traditional understandings of identity, belonging, and global citizenship. This panel discussion brings together CCK students to share their experiences of living between cultures, exploring how these backgrounds influence their educational journeys, interpersonal relationships, and worldviews. Through personal stories and interactive dialogue, participants will provide insight into the joys and challenges of their cross-cultural upbringing, highlighting how their perspectives can enrich educational and professional settings. This session aims to foster a deeper understanding of cultural complexity and inclusivity, encouraging attendees to consider how institutions and communities can better support CCKs. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas for integrating the strengths and needs of CCK students into intercultural and global learning initiatives.
PICLCoP Leadership Committee
The Leadership Committee strategically plans the future content of the PICLCoP meetings to ensure that it represents a wide range of the members’ perspectives, interests, and needs. If you have ideas, suggestions, or questions about the content of the PICLCoP in AY 2024/2025, please feel free to email the members of the Leadership Committee or Tatjana (tbabic@purdue.edu).
The members of the Leadership Committee (pictured from left to right) for this academic year are:
Elena Benedicto, Professor of Linguistics, Director of the Indigenous and Endangered Languages Lab, Purdue University, ebenedi@purdue.edu
Roya Sadat Alavipour, Doctoral Student, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Purdue University, ralavipo@purdue.edu
Horane A. Diatta-Holgate, Program Director of Inclusive Pedagogy and Learning, Kaneb Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Notre Dame, hholgate@nd.edu
Cynthia (Cindi) P. Koh-Knox Sharp, Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Purdue University, kohknox@purdue.edu
Stephanie Bowers, Intercultural Learning Specialist, Office of International Students & Scholars, Purdue University, smbowers@purdue.edu
FAQs
We are so glad that you want to know more about our community. Please use the QR code to let us know your contact information.
Before virtual events became such a regular part of our everyday reality, PICLCoP events were by invitation only for those outisde of the Purdue University-West Lafayette campus. However, we now welcome our intercultural colleagues to join us, regardless of location, for most events. Just register for virtual events by going to the Zoom links provided on the CILMAR calendar. If you do not have Purdue credentials and would like to visit us for an in-person event, please contact us at cilmar@purdue.edu to register.
We'd love to know how we can better serve you! Please let us know how we can best accommodate by using the QR code below.
Past PICLCoP Topics
Interested in topics from past PICLCoPs? Please click here.
What is PICLCoP?
