LAGIC Alumni Event: Cultivating Intercultural Competence and Strengthening Connections
In January 2025, the LAGIC programme hosted the annual alumni event to strengthen connections within the community, while providing students with insights into how the skills and knowledge gained from this degree can be applied in their future careers.
The event featured Dr. Kelsea Jackson, REACH Clerkship Program Manager at Stanford University School of Medicine, and Judith Yabal, Senior Lecturer at JAMK University of Applied Sciences. The speakers shared their views on intercultural competence in professional life, giving attendees practical examples of how their studies shaped their careers.
From Intercultural Competency to Cultural Empathy and Lifelong Learning
Dr. Kelsea Jackson earned her MA in Intercultural Communication from the Ģֱ in 2017, with the focus on intercultural empathy. She later completed her PhD at Massey University and built a diverse career, working as a teacher, programme coordinator, and manager. Currently, she is developing Racial Equity to Advance a Community of Health (REACH) programme to promote racial equity in healthcare through curriculum design and community engagement in order to support underprivileged populations.
Through her work with the REACH Clerkship, Dr. Jackson gained valuable insights into systemic racism in healthcare and the disparities in medical access. She is passionate to develop a curriculum that fosters bias awareness, cultural humility, and empathy while addressing social determinants of health or the non-medical factors that influence individual’s health.
“Instead of focusing on a checklist of intercultural competencies, the curriculum should foster continuous self-reflection, acknowledge the impact of privilege, encourages students to stay humble, and remain open to learning in areas where experience is limited,” Dr. Jackson said.
This curriculum aimed to prepare medical students to work effectively with diverse populations and to understand the broader social determinants of health. She highlights the importance of adaptability, curiosity, and open-mindedness in navigating diverse cultural contexts, emphasizing that building relationships and understanding different perspectives is important for both personal and professional growth.
Navigating Intercultural Challenges in the Clinical Environment
Growing up as a Nigerian-Finnish individual, Judith Yabal struggled to find a sense of belonging. Despite being mixed-race, she was often perceived as an immigrant in both countries and experienced exclusion from a young age. She encountered exclusion again during her nursing education and career, along with challenges related to language, and the stressful and traumatic environment in the nursing field.
Judith ۲’s experiences have fueled her motivation to explore the complexities of culture, identity, and integration through a degree at JYU, seeking to understand and address the challenges faced by her fellow international nursing students in Finland who are in similar situations.
“Clinical field is a life-and-death field where time is limited, leaving professionals with little opportunity to discuss cultural differences or theories while on the job,” Yabal said.
This is why it is crucial for nursing students and professionals to develop strong intercultural competencies in advance. Judith Yabal is currently a nursing lecturer at JAMK University of Applied Sciences, where her students come from diverse backgrounds. Some face financial difficulties, while others struggle with heavy workloads, challenging environments, language barriers, and cultural differences.
Recognizing these differences, she emphasizes the importance of adapting teaching methods to support diverse student needs and learning styles. Due to the need for better support systems, JAMK projects like SaSu play a vital role in helping international nursing graduates integrate into the Finnish healthcare system by improving their language skills and fostering connections with local communities, ultimately easing their transition into the workforce.
Skills to contribute intercultural dialogue
The speakers of the LAGIC alumni event emphasized the importance of intercultural competence in both personal and professional growth, highlighting the need for empathy, adaptability, and continuous learning in today’s diverse work environments. Participants, staff, alumni and current students, also had a great time reconnecting with each other, creating an atmosphere of shared experiences.
As the LAGIC programme evolves, it remains dedicated to preparing students to navigate a globalized world, equipping them with the skills to excel in their careers and contribute to intercultural dialogue. The event provided current students with valuable perspectives and was a reminder of the lasting value of a degree that blends language, communication, and cultural understanding.
