Gordon Leads International Virtual Exchange Meeting within eTACCHE Project
The International Center
Gordon Academic College of Education recently hosted a joint synchronous virtual exchange meeting as a part of the eTACCHE Project, bringing together students from the Master’s Program in Innovation and Technology in Education at Gordon and students from the Educational Sciences- Inclusive Education Master’s program at the University of Oradea (Romania).
The meeting, held on March 25, 2026, formed part of an ongoing shared virtual exchange course focused on exploring cultural heritage through innovative, collaborative, and digitally connected pedagogies.The session opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Ariella Levenberg, who greeted the participating students from her department and emphasized the importance of intercultural learning in contemporary teacher education.
Shadia Sbait, the project manager on behalf of Gordon International Center, presented the eTACCHE project, outlining its pedagogical vision and its role within the Erasmus+ framework. Reflecting on the origins of the initiative, she noted:
“We are living in a world where people are fighting over resources, land, power, and religion, and too often, differences between cultures are used to explain or justify these conflicts. We asked ourselves: what is the role of education in such a world? If misunderstanding is part of the problem, then education must be part of the solution.”
The meeting was co-facilitated by Zlil Busnak, who led the session together with colleagues from the University of Oradea, guiding students through a series of interactive and collaborative activities.Participants engaged in the icebreaker “Heritage in My Pocket,” sharing personal cultural artifacts, followed by breakout discussions on themes such as food traditions, arts and music, cultural sites, ceremonies, crafts, and meaningful locations. Students worked in international groups to identify cultural elements, compare perspectives, and explore ways to teach these topics using digital tools.
The session concluded with group presentations highlighting key insights and cross-cultural discoveries, demonstrating the value of dialogue, collaboration, and experiential learning in developing intercultural competence.This activity reflects Gordon’s leading role in advancing innovative, student-centered pedagogies that prepare future educators to work in diverse and multicultural environments. The collaboration will continue through additional joint activities, including the development of shared digital outputs and immersive learning experiences.
