On 23 October, 2026 the National University of Ostroh Academy hosted a student roundtable, “Dialogue in diversity: European culture and its future,” as part of an academic course. The event was organized within the framework of the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Module “European Studies of Intercultural Communication: the EU experience for Ukraine” (EuCultCom). It brought together students who discussed how intercultural communication helps European nations live together despite their differences, and what place Ukraine holds in this process.
The discussion centered on the idea of “unity in diversity,” which underlies the European project. Participants reflected on what European culture means today: whether it is a shared set of values or a mosaic of national traditions that constantly interact and enrich one another. The students paid particular attention to the role of language, memory, and cultural heritage in shaping identity, as well as to how to preserve one’s own distinctiveness in an open European space.
Ukraine’s European integration was addressed in a separate part of the discussion. The students spoke about how accession to the European Union is not only a political and economic process but also a cultural dialogue, in which Ukraine does not simply join a ready-made model but brings its own experience, traditions, and voice. Topics included stereotypes and prejudices that can hinder mutual understanding, and ways to overcome them through education, mobility, and exchange programs. Participants also noted how Ukrainians’ wartime experience and resilience are changing Europeans’ perceptions of Ukraine and fostering new forms of solidarity.
During the roundtable, the students also turned to the challenges facing the future of European culture: the impact of digital technologies and artificial intelligence on cultural exchange, the role of the media in shaping images of other peoples, the fight against disinformation, and the spread of a culture of dialogue among young people. The discussion showed that intercultural competence, the ability to listen, understand, and respect differences, is becoming one of the key skills for future professionals in the European environment.
The roundtable format allowed students not only to hone their public speaking and discussion skills in English but also to see Ukraine’s European integration as a living process in which they themselves are involved.
The event was held within the framework of the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Module “European Studies of Intercultural Communication: the EU experience for Ukraine”. Project acronym: EuCultCom. Project number: 101126800. Call: ERASMUS-JMO-2023-HEI-TCH-RSCH. Topic: ERASMUS-JMO-2023-MODULE.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.