The postgraduate programme "Intercultural studies and Greek as a 2nd language", aims at preparating educators and researchers to be able to cope effectively with the increasingly complex educational environment of the 21st century as well as provide quality study opportunities to all students.

As the mobility of diverse population groups is constantly intensified, the daily lives of more and more people require coexistence with people of other languages, cultures, and religion. This coexistence may not be a choice but an imposed reality, thus intercultural awareness is a necessity.

The purpose of the program "Intercultural studies and Greek as a 2nd / foreign language", which is addressed to both teachers and people whose professional occupation requires increased intercultural awareness but also to every modern person, is the specialized scientific knowledge, training and deepening in various theories. Moreover, this program emphasizes the importance of intercultural education, coexistence in a multicultural and multilingual social environment not only for cultivating the acceptance and respect of the different, but also for promoting the recognition of one’s own cultural identity, through dialogue, understanding and cooperation.

Finally, another inextricable goal of this program is the specialization of the participants in important issues of theory and practice for teaching of Greek as a second / foreign language. This specialization will be reached by discussing and deepening one’s knowledge in modern language teaching and learning principles, methods and techniques, which are directly designed for teaching people with different communication, emotional and learning needs, learning rhythms, skills and cultural references (religion, customs, habits, values, etc.).

The language of instruction is Greek.

Key Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will have acquired the skills that contribute to the constructive coexistence within a multicultural society by exploiting the diversity of cultures and preventing the formation of stereotypes and prejudices against individuals and cultures by overcoming any form of ethnocentric treatment. All this will be achieved through an educational process that gives substance to human rights by promoting understanding and cooperation between peoples, with the ultimate goal of leading societies to progress and peace.

At the same time, regarding the teaching of Greek as a 2nd / foreign language, it is sought, that with the completion of the program, the participants will have acquired the following:

• At the level of knowledge: acquisition of knowledge of the peculiarities of Greek and understanding of its basic teaching models,
• At the level of abilities / skills: ability to adopt and apply an effective teaching model and ability to teach Greek to non-native speakers and to members of the Greek community everywhere on earth, and
• At the level of values: adopting a culture of equal access to education and without discrimination or restrictions learning Greek to foreign language students and Greeks and Greek Cypriots of the Diaspora.
  
  

Graduates’ employability prospects

The design of the postgraduate program aims to provide teachers with the appropriate theoretical background based on the latest research findings and practical knowledge and skills, to become effective scientists and meet the growing challenges of the teaching profession. Graduates of the program will have all the necessary knowledge and skills required to design and provide effective teaching to students with different socio-cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Therefore, graduates of the program can work as teachers at all levels of public and private education or be employed in other public services, organizations / institutions, refugee structures that offer educational programs, semi-governmental organizations and private companies. In addition, they can pursue postgraduate studies at the doctoral level.