The overarching goals of the course are twofold:  

1. It offers an opportunity to learn context-sensitive theoretical knowledge of effective intercultural communication, crisis communication, and sustainability communication.
2. You will then apply this knowledge in a hands-on, case-based online project in a multicultural team. As well as producing communication strategies and texts, you will also reflect on your experiences and your own and your peers’ communication and teamwork. 

The course highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity, sustainability, and ethical responsibility, encouraging you to craft communication strategies that respect local values and global standards. Emphasis is placed on long-term reputation sustainability, but also on short-term damage control, fostering a holistic understanding of crisis dynamics. 

Upon successful completion of the course, you can: 

Knowledge 

• identify relevant ethical and cultural considerations when handling crisis communication to ensure that responses fulfil social expectations
• analyze media strategies, including the use of digital and traditional platforms, to manage reputation issues across diverse stakeholder groups
• apply theoretical knowledge on intercultural, crisis and sustainability communication in a hands-on, online, collaborative, case-based project  

 Skills 

• demonstrate effective intercultural virtual teamwork and produce effective messages  
• critically evaluate crisis communication strategies used in real-world scenarios, and demonstrate the ability to apply crisis communication response strategies, adapting messaging and tone in evolving situations 
• reflect on the role of sustainability and social responsibility in crisis communication, avoiding practices such as greenwashing and promoting long-term organizational legitimacy 

 General Competence 

• reflect on your own and others’ communicative practices in intercultural contexts and approaches relating to sustainability issues and crisis communication 
• give effective presentations for an intercultural audience in English and offer constructive peer feedback   

Through a combination of case studies and theoretical frameworks, students will develop key skills in media strategy, stakeholder engagement, narrative framing, and scenario planning. 

By the end of the course, students will be equipped to design and implement effective, culturally aware communication strategies that uphold organizational integrity and foster resilient stakeholder relationships during crises. 

The entire course will take place online using virtual collaboration tools (e.g. Zoom/MS Teams). The course comprises three key elements:  

1. live, interactive lectures discussing the theoretical foundations of sustainability, crisis and intercultural communication 

2. a practical, online team project where students will work together in multicultural teams to develop a sustainability communication strategy and design a set of communication tactics in response to a crisis scenario 

3. presentation of your projects and reflections on your own and your teammates’ communication and collaboration. 

WU: 0-49 (5, insufficient); 50-69 (4, sufficient); 70-79 (3, satisfactory); 80-89 (2, good); 90-100 (1, excellent)

• These grades will be converted for the UNWE students according to the usual criteria for students on an exchange.  

NHH: 0-49 (fail); 50-59 (E); 60-69 (D); 70-79 (C); 80-89 (B); 90-100 (A).