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Business Faculty Participates in "WE ARE Global Citizens" Week

Longo Faculty of Business received an extended invitation on behalf of global partner Fontys Academy for Creative Industries to join their virtual “WE ARE Global Citizens” week from March 15th – 19th.

Marketing Professors Fabian Marks and Steven Lorini, Fashion Management Program Coordinator Rossi Kadiyska and other faculty members volunteered their time to participate in a five-day virtual online event called “WE ARE Global Citizens” challenge along with partner, Fontys University, in the Netherlands. Students were given the assignment to propose and create a prototype solution to a specific challenge within the seventeen UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).  

The three professors were assigned to coach a cluster of seven student groups daily. The professors assisted the teams during the competition in concept creation, testing prototypes, fine-tuning and perfecting solutions. Coaches were also expected to ask students critical questions and guide them in the design process, conceptualizing one of the following seventeen SDG's:

  • No Poverty
  • Zero Hunger
  • Good Health and Well-being
  • Quality Education
  • Gender Equality
  • Clean Water and Sanitation
  • Affordable and Clean Energy
  • Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • Reduced Inequality
  • Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Climate Action
  • Life Below Water
  • Life on Land
  • Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
  • Partnerships to Achieve the Goal

The assignment for students during WE ARE week was an open question with an open answer. Diversity and creativity were encouraged to develop a comprehensive concept that impacts a local community around the assigned SDG. This assignment aimed to enable students to:

  • Explain the relevance and context of the SDG to the chosen community
  • Use the design thinking process to create a ready-to-use, constructive concept based on an analysis of your SDG and community, showing an understanding of both
  • Explain how they may scale up their concept or use it in other communities to reach more impact on a larger (possibly global) scale
  • Suitably present their concept, showing sensitivity to cultural differences in their audience and creating an eagerness for those involved to turn the concept into reality

WE ARE Global Citizens

WE ARE Global Citizens event over Zoom

WE ARE Global Citizens package

During the event, there was a unique opportunity for students and faculty to work on their own global citizenship. In the contextual environment, students and faculty were able to increase their awareness of cultural dynamics - enabling them to expand their network and gain new experiences while dealing with captivating challenges.

A special treat for faculty was being invited to join sessions offered throughout the week including a special presentation workshop on cultural intelligence hosted by University of Amsterdam's International Student Affairs Manager Guido de Wilde.

The challenge was not only rewarding to the global student body in attendance but also helped Humber solidify its profile abroad and aided professors in establishing new connections to explore in their classrooms.

“I was able to learn more about running a successful online global competition. The connections I made already are leading to conversations towards creating new partnerships and classroom projects.” - Rossie Kadiyska

"It was great to see the students adopting a global perspective from the creation stage of the project, and I was pleased to have the opportunity to share examples from other countries and guide the students on their initiatives." - Fabian Marks

"I was so lucky to work this year with Fonty’s again on an international project, including being able to guest lecture to the Data Analytics class which is taught in English and Dutch in their Marketing Management - Digital Business program. A fantastic curriculum and global partnership program, and I was happy to share my expertise and connect with students across the globe!" - Steven Lorini

A special thanks to Fontys for allowing Business faculty to volunteer as coaches for the WE ARE Global Citizens week 2021.

There will be an exciting update in April regarding the “Humber Global Challenge” this Summer for anyone with enthusiasm for global team projects!

More to come, and looking forward to next year!

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