Course content.
The multilayered issues of our time require creativity that extends beyond the boundaries of culture and disciplines. If the arts, design and education wish to be incorporated effectively into global issues and discourses, this requires a high degree of transcultural skill and collaborative dexterity from the participating actors. They acquire the requisite skills in the international “Transcultural Collaboration” minor.

Within the scope of their minor studies, they explore artistic or design collaboration in teams which are notable for their cultural and subject-specific diversity. This enables them to undergo a period of intensive self-research and self-reflection, not only with regard to creative practices but also cultural impacts, learned aesthetics and their own personal and global understanding. They develop a multiperspective mindset, test methods of transdisciplinary collaboration, and reflect on their art and design work in a dynamically transnational environment.

The minor is offered in cooperation with Shared Campus, a worldwide unique cooperation platform of art universities, in which ZHdK plays a significant role. The minor takes place partly in Zurich, partly online in exchange with external students and lecturers and for three weeks in Asia (Yogyakarta, Indonesia*). The students’ works are presented to the public in Yogyakarta at the end of the stay.

*Indonesia is a democratic state, the 4th most populated country on earth including the highest number of people with Muslim religion. Indonesia offers an enormous cultural diversity as well as a complex colonial history. Yogyakarta (Java) is one of the most important places for experimental art, and is specifically known for the high number of art collectives in various (inter-)disciplinary fields. 

Skills acquired in the course.
Students learn:
–  how to cope with conflict and to understand and deal with the potential of the variety in global cultural and societies
–  to critically reflect on the impact of diverse, globally relevant and related topics and questions, and develop an awareness of their own cultural identity
–  to recognize and apply a variety of collaborative working techniques and approaches in the arts and design
–  to compile transdisciplinary teams to implement a variety of creative tasks and projects.

Admissions requirements.
The minor is suitable for students with a genuine interest in researching transcultural issues, who are prepared to work in multidisciplinary and culturally diverse teams, and prepared to critically reflect on their work and thought process. The students have a good knowledge of English.

Language skills required.
You need the following languages to take this minor:
–  English: to be able to follow a discussion
–  English: to actively participate in a verbal exchange
–  English: to understand a text
–  English: to write a text

Benefits of studying this minor.
The minor is built on cooperation between 13 universities and partners in Asia and Europe, and helps students to develop an international network (Shared Campus). The different locations of the program provide the basis and sufficient space for collaborative experiments. An international team of lecturers from a wide range of disciplines supports the students on their developmental path. The accommodation costs during the three-week stay abroad are borne by ZHdK, the travel and living costs by the participants themselves (flight: CHF 800–1000; living costs: CHF 300–400).

→ More information about this minor (PDF download)

At ZHdK, students choose a Major. In addition to this core subject, they can choose one or two Minors to deepen or expand their major skills and knowledge across various disciplines. This wide choice of courses is unique in Europe and enables students to develop and sharpen their individual profile.