ECILP – European Certificate for Intercultural Learning Professionals

Ein europaweiter Zertifizierungsrahmen für Berufstätige im interkulturellen Kontext

Abstract

The field of intercultural competences has changed significantly in recent years. Due to an increasing differentiation of the definition(s) of the research object itself as well as the diversification of facilitating activities such as training, coaching, counselling, etc., the cognitive aspect is no longer the sole focus of the competences of intercultural professionals; aspects of experience, behaviour, practical skills and self-reflection etc. are also taught. Consequently, professionals in the intercultural context should have competences that go beyond the cognitive approach of comparing countries, which was successfully taught for long time. This applies even more to those who teach and impart intercultural competences. In order to ensure these requirements at the European level and to make them visible, the ECILP (European Certificate for Intercultural Learning Professionals) project, funded by the European Union, aims to create a Europe-wide certificate for professionals working in an intercultural context). It will enable especially trainers, coaches, mediators, etc. to assess their intercultural competences to meet today’s requirements in international economy, administration, social work and other fields. The project’s objective is to create a European certificate for Intercultural Learning Professionals. The article presents the objective of the certificate and describes its main elements.