The ‘Intercultural Communication and Sustainable Economics’ (ICSE) is an interdisciplinary structured exchange program for ZU Bachelor students in partnership with Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in Lugano, Switzerland.

It is a "packaged" exchange, where the student follows a pre-established study plan.

During the exchange, students will go into the field and "get their hands dirty" while tackling local issues as part of their sustainability project in Airolo. There, they will stay at USI´s brand new House of Sustainability, a flagship location in Ticino for education and reflection on sustainable development in a unique Alpine setting.

The objective is to work together to find solutions to the grand challenges of our time and contribute to a more sustainable and ethical world while building essential skills in communication and economics.

The essentials:

• USI students come to ZU in Fall semester - ZU students go to Lugano in the following Spring semester (for an exchange semester)
  
• Taught entirely in English
• Structured exchange (that is, pre-selection of courses)
• Hands-on in practive projects
• To tackle a local issue at the interface of economic, social, and environmental concerns
• Alpine seminar and field project at House of Sustainability (Airolo, CH)
• 30 ECTS to acquire
• Students taking part in the program can also benefit from the SEMP Studies scholarship by the Swiss National Agency Movetia, which contributes to travel expenses and part of the living costs.

Mandatory courses (at USI):

• Intercultural Communication (6 ECTS)
• Methods to Tackle Wicked Problems (3 ECTS)
• Sustainability Project (3 ECTS)
• Interdisciplinary Approaches to Gender and Diversity (3 ECTS)
• Media and Global Challenges (6 ECTS)

Electives (at USI):

Students can choose among ither English-taught courses within the Facultuy of Communication or Economics

Embark on an interdisciplinary, holistic and intercultural journey and join the ICSE program!