By Aliona Yermayaleva, International Correspondent
Updated by Allison Iurato on Feb 8, 2026
Attending the SIETAR USA conference in Portland in November 2025 was a truly transformational experience for me. It offered a unique opportunity to meet in person many of the colleagues from the intercultural field I had previously only known through virtual workshops and meetups. Having members from other SIETAR chapters truly enriched the dialogue. The conference confirmed my belief that both virtual and face-to-face connections are vital for expanding our horizons and gaining fresh perspectives. With that spirit of connection in mind, I am looking forward to attending future SIETAR USA webinars and am thrilled to share several opportunities to engage with our global community in this issue.
Online Events & Exchanges
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D&D (Discuss & Debate) Club with Victoria Spashchenko is a “free-flow, open-ended, and self-regulated exchange” organized under the patronage of SIETAR Poland and SIETAR Europa. For information on upcoming dates please check the SIETAR Europa event calendar
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February 11, 2026 Interculturality Through the Eyes of the Young Generation: "How Citizenship Impacts Ethnic Minorities ?" - with Simeon Hajzeri hosted by SIETAR France & SIETAR Poland features a young interculturalist who speaks about citizenship not only from books, but from life.
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February 12, 2026 D&D (Discuss & Debate) Club with Victoria Spashchenko is a “free-flow, open-ended, and self-regulated exchange” organized under the patronage of SIETAR Poland and SIETAR Europa. The topic of discussion in February is: Is ethical leadership a universal ideal or a cultural construct? For information on upcoming dates please check the SIETAR Europa event calendar.
- February 16, 2026 Global Mindset Development is hosting The Olympics: Intercultural Sports Arena presented by Allison Iurato of Alto Intercultural. The workshop explores the ways in which sports intersect with intercultural communication discourses through the lens of the Olympic Games.
- February 26, 2026 SIETAR Germany is hosting Belonging Starts with Words - Language and Identity Growing Up Between Cultures which explores how language and labels influence children’s and adolescents’ sense of belonging under complexity.
- February 26, 2026 SIETAR Southeast Asia is hosting Celebrating Lunar New Year in Southeast Asia for a short webinar on Chinese New Year and Tết as we explore their cultural meanings, traditions, and what they symbolize for the year ahead.
- March 27, 2026 “If I Moved There…” Travellers’ Club with Diana Silva Franco sharing insights on Bilbao, Spain - an interactive 1-hour exchange exploring cultural experiences through the lens of personal travel, professional reflection, and imaginative relocation.
SIETAR Europa Leadership Changes & Congress Update
There have been significant developments within SIETAR Europa that we would like to share with you. First, we acknowledge the resignation of the SIETAR Europa President Papa Balla Ndong after over 2 years of service. George Simons was appointed as the interim President of SEU until elections in June.
Second, the Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to cancel the Congress planned for Valencia in June 2026. The Board is now focused on a transition period and is planning a new Congress for late 2026 or 2027.
Calls for Papers & Participation
Bilingual Conference: "Intercultural Competence: Practices, Innovations and Controversies"
Université Paris Cité, Paris, France March 25, 2026
Université Paris Cité & SIETAR France invite researchers, practitioners and early-career scholars to submit proposals for this one-day conference exploring how intercultural competence is defined practiced, challenged, and re-imagined across educational, professional, political, and social contexts.
Submission deadline: February 20, 2026
Languages: French / English
TOIT+ 2026
Université Bourgogne Europe, Dijon, France, May 2026
The Training of Intercultural Trainers (TOIT+) is looking for contributors and dedicated volunteers to help shape the 2026 conference. Young SIETAR members and supporters are invited to explore two essential questions for the future of our field: whose voices shape intercultural practice, and what futures are we collectively building?
Submission deadline: February 25, 2026
As always, we encourage you to explore what else other SIETAR Global groups have to offer. For more information, please feel free to reach out to Sue Shinomiya – our point of contact for SIETAR Global.
Stay connected and continue building bridges with us!
