The Human Factor
Practical approaches to diverse clients with empathy and cultural sensitivity
Join us for a week that puts the human factor first!
The Human Factor: Practical approaches to encountering diverse clients with empathy, presence, and cultural sensitivity in today’s fast-changing society!
Meaningful encounters are at the heart of inclusive, equitable, and human-centred services. In an increasingly diverse and rapidly changing society, professionals in social work, education, health care, and related fields work with people whose backgrounds, experiences, and needs vary widely. Empathy, presence, and cultural sensitivity are therefore essential professional and ethical practices.
The quality of these encounters depends on individual skills, supportive teams, open organisational cultures, and enabling societal conditions. Active listening, self-awareness, time, resources, and mutual trust all contribute to ensuring that people feel seen, heard, and respected.
Respect for human dignity, equity, and inclusion is already embedded in the ethical principles of the helping professions. The challenge is to translate these values into everyday practice, reflecting critically on personal assumptions and recognising people as experts in their own lives.
Working with diversity is a continuous learning process that requires culturally responsive communication, ethical awareness, and genuine human connection across professional and community settings.
This Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) brings together NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), and Howest University of Applied Sciences.
2nd of February 2027 to 26th of February 2027
English
To be defined by each higher education institution
RUN-EU Students, fields of Health and Social services and Education
Please contact your International Office at your HEI for information about Grants
Programme at a glance
Monday
8.30-16.30: Welcome, introductions, lectures, instructions for the DBE process, team building activities
Tuesday
9.00-15.30: lectures and workshops, team work (DBE)
16.00-22.00 cultural activities
Wednesday
9.00-16.00: Workshops, lectures team work (DBE)
16.30 – 19.30 cultural activities
Thursday
9-16.00 Workshops, lectures team work (DBE)
19.00- 23.00 evening programme
Friday
9.30 – 14.00: DBE presentations, closing session, evaluation.
Early departures are not accepted.
Reflective written report of the BIP, submitted to instructors from their own university.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme, learners will be able to:
The participating students will be able to:
• Identify factors and societal challenges that influence interactions with diverse clients and learners.
• Use culturally responsive communication and active listening skills in practice.
• Analyse and address diversity-related and ethical challenges in real-life cases.
• Work effectively in international and multidisciplinary teams.
• Reflect on personal perspectives and promote inclusion, equity, and human dignity in professional practice
Selection criteria
Students of Healthcare, Social services and education prioritised
Involved organisations and persons
Howest University of Applied Sciences
Partner Organisation- Kurt Debaere (Instructor)
- Sabine De Gryse (Instructor)
Häme University of Applied Sciences
Lead Organisation, Host Organisation- Miia Ståhlberg (Lead Instructor)
NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
Partner Organisation- Vincent Hopmans (Instructor)
Other persons involved
- Janika Kosonen (Instructor)
- Sini Stolt (Instructor)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Grant Agreement Number: 101124674
