What to expect?

Crossing Borders is an exchange programme designed for tomorrow’s professionals in social work, education and health care. They often work on cases where an interdisciplinary insight into the various areas involved could provide added value. 

Focus: challenges caused by urbanisation

Organised by the faculties of Applied Social Studies, Teacher Education and Health Care of the Karel de Grote University College, Crossing Borders focuses on challenges caused by urbanisation.

Students in this exchange programme explore urban challenges:

• How can we cope with transcultural issues in health care? How do we assure sustainable housing and access to health care in urban areas?
• What are successful strategies to deal with growing diversity and multilingualism in education?
• How do welfare services respond to growing poverty and people in disadvantaged situations?

Interdisciplinary and transcultural approach

These new urban challenges ask for an interdisciplinary and transcultural approach. 

• Our students focus on super-diversity, poverty and liveability. In a safe and small-scale setting, Crossing Borders students and teachers will actively engage in dialogue and exchange thoughts and ideas.
• This will help them to look beyond the limits of their own disciplines and frames of reference. Field visits further enable them to dive into the urban reality that is Antwerp. 

The programme is offered in the spring semester.

All modules are taught in English.

Curriculum Crossing Borders (30 ECTS):

• Crossing borders ID: 6 ECTS (mandatory for all students)
• Migration & super-diversity: 4 ECTS
• Poverty: 4 ECTS
• Gender & sexuality: 4 ECTS
• Ethics & human rights: 4 ECTS
• Urban health challenges: 4 ECTS
• Urban challenges in education: 4 ECTS

Overview of the modules

Extracurricular: Dutch Foreign Language level A1 

KdG offers free Dutch language courses for all exchange students:

• evening classes 
• at campus Groenplaats, in the centre of Antwerp

• A language service is offered to all Crossing Borders students who are interested in improving their English.
• Students are provided with digital content, exercises and workshops about reading, listening, writing and speaking in English.
• Besides classical instructions, students can ask for individual assistance.

English language requirements

As the entire programme is taught in English, you should master the English language sufficiently to participate actively in the courses. Level B2 is strongly recommended.

If you are not proficient enough in English, there is always the risk of failing assignments or examinations. This is entirely the responsibility of the sending institution.

Karel De Grote University of Applied Sciences and Arts offers English language support to all Crossing Borders students. Students are provided with digital content, exercises and workshops about reading, listening, writing and speaking in English. Beside classical instructions, students can ask for individual assistance.

You can also study English (or other) languages at the language centre of the University of Antwerp. For applications and fees, please contact Linguapolis directly.

Who can apply?

• The subjects are open to all students in the fields of healthcare, social work and teacher education or a related study field
• Both international and KdG students can enrol in the programme.

How to apply and register?

• Ask your International coordinator to send your nomination to our international coordinator Annemie Versweyveld: international.crossingborders@kdg.be (nomination form provided by KDG International Office/KDG Exchange).
• When you are accepted, you will receive an e-mail confirming your nomination, and containing a link to your application.
• Soon after your registration, you will receive another e-mail with your KdG e-mail address, password and registration number.
• Later on, in the next step, you will receive an e-mail with a link to Mobility Online. That is an online tool where you can complete the rest of your application (using your registration number and password) and upload the necessary documents.
• In Mobility Online, each step will be checked and approved by the exchange officer of Crossing Borders at KdG. The application is complete when you enter the level: [AI] Exchange confirmed by KdG. All steps have to be completed before arrival.

More questions?

• Technical helpdesk Mobility Online: international@kdg.be

• For other questions concerning Crossing Borders, please contact us via international.crossingborders@kdg.be