The Department of Language Communication is part of the GSLC international program

During the summer semester, the Department of Language Communication at the FMK participated in the international GSLC (Global Shared Learning Classroom) program. The program is organized by Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico in collaboration with two universities in Colombia.

This is a project-based learning approach based on the COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) methodology, which combines online learning with international collaboration and promotes the development of language, communication, and teamwork skills in a multicultural environment.

The program involved selected English language students from all degree programs, under the guidance of Dr. Anna Hurajová, Dr. Eva Habiňáková, Dr. Denisa Kraľovičová, and Dr. Magdaléna Ungerová.

International Collaboration and Student Creative Projects

Throughout April, students worked in international teams on a common topic related to one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The theme for this semester was cultural heritage and its sustainability. Project participants completed assignments on an ongoing basis and developed their skills in a real-world international context.

The culmination of the project was the creation of a concept for an international cultural festival that brings together elements of the cultures of the participating countries while promoting tolerance and the sustainability of cultural heritage. The students presented their proposals through creative videos and digital content. Active participation and the final outputs were part of the assessment for the English language course.

Preparing for the Global Workplace

“Working with students from Mexico and Colombia gave me new experiences, the chance to improve my English, and at the same time, I learned more about the cultures of these two countries. Although the time difference made our work a little more complicated, this project was very beneficial for me,” said Mária Dzurjová, a first-year marketing communications student.

First-year student Karin Melušová shares a similar view of the program: “The project gave me new experiences and the chance to develop my communication skills, especially in English. Working as part of an international team was also a huge benefit. It was an exceptional opportunity to meet new people and, above all, to learn about their culture, which was the foundation for our joint project.”

Dr. Hurajová, the program coordinator at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, particularly highlighted the practical aspect of international education: “The GSLC program has enabled students to experience authentic international collaboration, develop their communication skills in English, and learn to work in a multicultural team. It is precisely these kinds of experiences that are extremely valuable for students today and prepare them for a global work environment.”

Modern Education Without Borders

Participation in the GSLC program underscores the department’s commitment to providing students with modern and innovative forms of education with an international dimension. The program also strengthens collaboration with international partners and creates opportunities for new academic and research initiatives.

“We believe that our successful collaboration with Tec de Monterrey will continue in the coming semesters and will provide our students with new international experiences, contacts, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. We are pleased that the internationalization of education is not just a theoretical concept, but that we have managed to translate it into actual classroom instruction,” concluded Dr. Hurajová.

Photo source: Eva Jonisová, Anna Hurajová