VIU's Globalization Program provides a truly multicultural, international and interdisciplinary environment for students and professors of the member universities. Both students and professors come from different cultural backgrounds (with about 20 nationalities represented in a semester) and from different academic traditions (e.g. American students are accustomed to class discussions, Italian students to lectures), and come from a range of disciplines (many come from Liberal Arts schools, others are studying for more discipline-oriented degrees such as economics, history, architecture or environmental studies, or are studing in degree programs such as international relations).
Some students avail of the opportunity to study at VIU in order to take courses that are not strictly in their field of study. Students in the program attend one or two semesters at Venice International University as part of their bachelor or master’s degree at one of the member universities.
The program provides a powerful learning experience in which students develop their capacity for critical thinking, and creative problem solving. Students exposed to interdisciplinary approaches can think analytically and can creatively embrace new ideas. In addition, the intercultural nature of the program, with each student bringing her/his own personal experience to discussions, means that students are exposed to perspectives different from their own, and consequently experience the benefits of embracing difference. Students of the Globalization Program are thus more prepared for graduate and professional study and for careers in new and emerging fields.
Courses should not require preliminary knowledge on the topic, as they are open to students from any discipline. They should, however, remain challenging for students of that specific field of study.
Call for applications for Lectureships in the Globalization Program
Calls are open to tenured professors (or equivalent as defined by the home university) in the member universities. There are two deadlines each year for presenting course proposals: March 15 & September 15.
The call for Academic Years 2022-2023, 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 is now open.
Summer Session
Venice International University will introduce in 2022 a Summer Session in order to engage students and professors from member universities and extend the opportunities to study and teach at VIU.
Through this opportunity VIU will also serve the needs of those students who otherwise face barriers to participation during the semester-long programs, due to the structure of their curricula, socio-economic factors, cultural factors, and personal circumstances.
The Summer Session is also an opportunity for professors who, due to teaching, research, administrative or personal commitments, are otherwise unable to spend a full semester at VIU.
