Program Overview
Introduction to the NICE Summer School
The University of Edinburgh proudly hosted the NICE (Network for Intercultural Competence to facilitate Entrepreneurship) Summer School in 2025. The program is designed to enhance intercultural competence and entrepreneurship among students from across Europe and South Africa.
About the Programme
The NICE programme equips students with the knowledge and practical experience to succeed in the global workplace. The programme supports students in achieving four key aims:
- Building skills to enhance employability
- Encouraging entrepreneurship
- Introducing tools for effective collaboration
- Developing intercultural competence
Tackling Real-World Problems
The Summer School is the in-person finale to the year-long online programme, which hones each participant's teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and decision-making. The students work collaboratively in small international groups, identifying opportunities to use their now well-practised skills to tackle a challenge brief based on real-world problems within Edinburgh, with each team member bringing insights uniquely tied to their cultural backgrounds.
An Equitable Partnership
The University of Edinburgh's partnership with Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU) is an equitable one, celebrating the success of their well-established UK-Ukraine twinning programme. The partnership is built on mutual respect, trust, and a willingness to collaborate amid extreme hardships.
Programme Details
The NICE Summer School programme includes:
- A week-long itinerary designed to enhance intercultural competence and entrepreneurship
- A delegation of lecturers and project coordinators to support the programme
- Opportunities for students to work collaboratively in small international groups to tackle real-world problems
- A celebration of the success of the UK-Ukraine twinning programme with an event in the Edinburgh Futures Institute
Participant Experience
Participants in the NICE Summer School programme have reported gaining valuable intercultural skills and experience, including:
- Building skills to enhance employability
- Encouraging entrepreneurship
- Introducing tools for effective collaboration
- Developing intercultural competence
Conclusion
The NICE Summer School programme is a unique and valuable opportunity for students to develop their intercultural competence and entrepreneurship skills. The programme's equitable partnership with KNU and its focus on tackling real-world problems make it an exciting and rewarding experience for participants.