| |
|
The topic of "intercultural learning" has occupied a key position in the BMW Group's social activities for a long time: the "BMW Group Award for Intercultural Learning" was first advertised in 1997 – parallel to the publication of the original collection of "LIFE – ideas and materials for intercultural learning".
Intercultural learning: a challenge to modern society and an opportunity to broaden individual horizons.
The central task definition of the Award and of the comprehensive LIFE concept is the challenge of perceiving foreign people and cultures as normal everyday phenomena in our modern society. Encountering a foreign culture calls for a willingness to adopt a new perspective. Not unless we are willing to approach a foreign culture, language or religion without prejudice, with an attitude of curiosity and respect, will we avoid the danger of patronising foreigners and failing to make adequate use of educational opportunities. Intercultural learning teaches us to treat apparent strangers as equal members of our society – a process that doesn't attempt to iron out our differences but rather respects such differences as a potential source of enrichment. Moreover, intercultural learning provides all of us with the opportunity to broaden our own horizons in terms of knowledge and experience – not merely in language-learning and general education, but in all spheres of life, work and study.
Stimulus to a positive coexistence of cultures: intentions of the Award.
The intention of the BMW Group in presenting the Award is to foster and perpetuate the discussion on intercultural learning – transcending all national frontiers and breaking down all artificial dividing lines between separate disciplines and teaching contexts. The Award is intended to create impulses for a better culture of transition from national to intercultural societies. A look at the prize-winners of 1997 until today is proof enough that this can be very successful.
Visions, concepts and examples of best practice.
The project documentation and research papers submitted by the contestants to whom the BMW Group has awarded prizes from 1997 until today are the best proof that intercultural learning really works – both for the individual and for society. Moreover, the LIFE resources, which are continually being supplemented with concrete proposals by educationalists for the implementation of intercultural learning concepts, are impressive proof that making an effort to understand foreign customs and cultures is also of indisputable benefit to the individual's own development and powers of perception.
|
|
|
