SIETAR Conference: Intercultural leadership

USI’s International Relations  and Study Abroad Service was invited to contribute to a panel discussion on the role of universities in fostering the inclusion of refugees, held on the first day of the conference.
On this occasion, Mariaelena Biliato presented the InclUSIone project, an initiative by USI designed to support the integration of students with a refugee background through concrete and tailored measures.

The panel was opened by a presentation from Prof. Eric Davoine, Full Professor of Human Resource Management and Organization at the University of Fribourg, who explored the challenges skilled refugees face in having their potential recognised and the opportunities this creates for universities.
Alongside InclUSIone, the panel also showcased Campus Luzern, a project coordinated by the three higher education institutions in Lucerne to support asylum seekers with academic potential in preparing for university admission. The USI presentation was positively received as a concrete example of how higher education institutions can transform their services into active tools for inclusion and welcome.

Over the course of the three-day event, numerous other sessions addressed intercultural education as a foundation for effective leadership in our increasingly interconnected world. Participation in the conference highlighted the global importance placed on valuing multiculturalism, both in academia and the workplace — an importance that USI fully recognises, as reflected in the strategic objectives of the Pro-Rectorate for Internationalisation.

In today’s world, interculturality is often invisible but deeply influential. Culture shapes how we communicate, lead, and resolve conflicts, especially in hybrid and digital contexts.
To be effective leaders today, we must cultivate cultural awareness, active listening, and the ability to manage complexity, while maintaining coherence between our values and actions. Interculturality is, however, a process of mutual transformation. It is not about "tolerating" difference, but about co-creating new spaces of meaning and belonging, and rediscovering our responsibility in shaping the society we wish to live in.

Participation in the SIETAR 2025 conference confirmed that interculturality is not a specific topic, but a transversal competence, essential in every sphere of contemporary society: from education to research, from international mobility to leadership.

Those interested in learning more about the initiatives of USI’s International Relations and Study Abroad Service on internationalisation and interculturality are invited to visit the website or contact [email protected].