Module 27-Neo-1 NEOLAiA – Focus Academy: Eyes Wide Open: Learning to see possible inclusive worlds

A Focus Academy

• is a specially designed Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) within the framework of the European University Alliance ‘NEOLAiA’
• is a structured, short-term, financially supported mobility abroad that is integrated into the curriculum, at least via the Individual Complementary Area (free elective area).
• is developed and implemented by at least three higher education institutions from at least three EU member states and third countries associated with the programme.
• is an excellent way of gaining (initial) international study experience and developing your own language skills.
• consists of a virtual and a physical component: Students from the different universities work together the whole time. The highlight is the joint physical phase on site, which lasts at least 5 days.
• deals in particular with transversal and interdisciplinary topics in order to be of interest to many students of different disciplines.

This programme was developed with university partners of the European University Alliance ‘NEOLAiA’ (https://neolaiacampus.eu/).

This Focus Academy targets NEOLAiA’s diversity and inclusion pilar, aiming to engage learners in tasks that will enable them to:

• develop intercultural competences while engaging in reflective dialogical processes
• Understand and appreciate the complexity of the multi-perspective nature of knowing things in our world through the use of possibility thinking
• engage in authentic problem solving art-based methods of inquiry
• be mindful of visual inquiry strategies that can expand the moment of looking

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to:

• analyze diverse cultural perpsectives critically, identifying underlying assumptions, biases and implications, to enhance inclusive dialogue and interaction
• critically assess one’s own assumptions and biases by actively incorporating alternative viewpoints to enrich collaborative decision-making and problem-solving.
• evaluate current practices and theoretical frameworks for fostering possibility thinking
• apply innovative, inclusive strategies that actively integrate multiple perspectives, encouraging ‘wide-awakeness’ (Green, 1997)
• use art-based and visual methods to envision equitable and inclusive trans-professional communities
• effectively synthesizing diverse insights and experiences to foster meaningful civic engagement.
• collaborate in diverse groups and develop discussion skills
• make connections, evaluate ideas and give feedback to other students

‘Eyes Wide Open: learning to see possible inclusive worlds’ is an FA course designed to deeply explore diversity and inclusion through visual and art-based methodologies. Participants will immerse themselves in reflective dialogical processes aimed at cultivating intercultural competences by fostering possibility thinking, and understanding the complexities inherent in multi-perspective knowledge and perception. Through strategic visual and art-based inquiry, imaginative exploration, and authentic problem-solving activities, learners will significantly broaden their perspectives and engage meaningfully with diversity and ambiguity.

Participants will actively engage in creative tasks such as taking apart everyday objects to appreciate complexity of how small pieces come together to form a large whole, use Photovoice to cultivate empathy, engage in creative writing using narrative pictures/wordless picture books and embodied inquiry in non-formal settings.

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