Xavier University continues its commitment to global engagement and intercultural understanding, with its recent participation in the 2025 Deusto International Staff Program/lended Intensive Program. Hosted by the University of Deusto in Spain, this prestigious program, centered on “Interculturality: A Cornerstone in Higher Education,” brought together a diverse cohort of 27 professionals from 15 universities across 13 countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. The international cohort included Dr Shiella Balbutin, OICN Director of Xavier University. Her participation highlighted the university’s strong commitment to promoting a globally-minded academic community.

The program, held throughout June 2025, featured a dynamic blended format, combining an intensive week of on-campus work at Deusto’s Bilbao and San Sebastián campuses with two insightful virtual sessions. It served as a vital platform for global dialogue, aiming to equip higher education professionals with practical skills and facilitate the exchange of best practices in integrating interculturality into university structures, curricula, and classroom initiatives. The program aimed to deepen the participants’ understanding of how critical interculturality is, not just as an outcome, but as the very foundation of internationalization in higher education.

The DISP 2025 cohort at the Arrupe Bridge, Deusto University Campus in Bilbao

The DISP 2025 cohort at the Deusto University Campus in Bilbao

The DISP 2025 cohort at the Deusto University campus in San Sebastian

Key takeaways from the workshop included:

• Distinguishing Interculturality: The program emphasized that while multiculturality notes cultural presence, interculturality actively seeks meaningful interaction and mutual transformation, driven by a commitment to justice and learning from diverse perspectives.
• Developing Global Competencies: Interculturality is crucial for building essential global competencies such as empathy, critical thinking, and openness, preparing students for an interconnected world.
• Holistic Integration: Discussions highlighted the need for universities to integrate interculturality structurally across all functions—from policy and HR to curriculum and classroom engagement—and not just through temporary mobility programs.

The workshop sessions covered a broad spectrum, from strategic university management within the Basque University System’s plan to become an International Basque University System by 2030, to detailed explorations of embedding interculturality in study plans. The 2025 Spanish Immigration Regulation was also discussed as a policy example to attract and retain international talent.

For the participants, the sessions on “Interculturality in Study Plans” and “Interculturality in the Classroom” were particularly impactful. Seeing concrete examples of how mobility programs, virtual exchanges, and even instructional design can intentionally build intercultural competence gives tangible pathways for implementation. The emphasis on inclusive pedagogy, which considers diverse student needs and backgrounds, is directly applicable to faculty development. The program also included insights from the Alboan Foundation on youth-focused intercultural initiatives, aligning with Xavier University's community engagement values.

Beyond academics, the program provided a rich cultural experience, which included a detailed tour of the Deusto Bilbao campus, a historical Bilbao city tour, an immersive visit to the iconic Guggenheim Museum, and a memorable visit to the Deusto San Sebastian campus followed by a tour of the charming city of San Sebastian itself.

The insights gained from the Deusto International Staff Program will significantly inform Xavier University's ongoing efforts to enhance its internationalization strategies and cultivate a truly globally-minded academic environment for its faculty, students and staff. Xavier University’s participation not only strengthened its international network but also laid robust groundwork for potential future collaborations with leading higher education institutions worldwide. #