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UCL Grand Challenges engage researchers in shaping the new Intercultural Communication theme
2 June 2026
Ahead of the launch of the UCL Grand Challenge of Intercultural Communication, staff from across UCL recently participated in an interactive workshop to shape the theme.
The new Intercultural Communication theme builds on the success of the Grand Challenge of Cultural Understanding, which has supported over 100 projects involving over 200 researchers, distributed £429,000 in seed funding, and helped secure over £700,000 in additional funding. Areas of focus included adolescence, globalisation, decolonisation and equitable partnerships.
Cultural Understanding has worked best where it created open, non-hierarchical spaces for creativity and interdisciplinary exchange, enabling colleagues across UCL and beyond to collaborate in meaningful, innovative ways.” Professors Audrey Prost and Doug Bourn, Co-Chairs of UCL Grand Challenge of Cultural Understanding Working Group
Workshop Highlights: Setting Priorities for the Future
Discussions highlighted Intercultural Communication as central to UCL's mission - rather than a standalone topic, it was seen as a unifying, cross-cutting theme that connects people, knowledge and approaches by navigating cultural diversity, strengthening collaboration across disciplines and sectors and addressing global challenges through collective action.
Participants identified priority areas for impact, including addressing issues such as AI, language and epistemic inequality, power imbalances, decolonisation and justice. There was a strong emphasis that communication across cultures is not limited to language, but creativity, the arts and cultural expression can be modes of intercultural communication.
Discussions also noted recommendations that the theme is dynamic, requiring openness to different perspectives, navigating disagreement constructively and confidence in working through misunderstandings, with enhanced collaborations with UCL's Disagreeing Well programme and the Students' Unions Impartial Chairs initiative. Externally, participants called for deeper partnerships with community organisations and local partners, cultural and creative institutions, international collaborators and policymakers.
“UCL's Grand Challenges' success is bringing individuals together as UCL size can make it challenging for connections to happen organically. The new theme of Inequalities should continue to challenge privilege, examine the systems that sustain inequality, and create space to listen to those who are marginalised. It requires sitting with discomfort, reflecting collectively, and recognising that inequality is everyone’s business – not just those who live it”.The future of the theme lies in positioning culture as a transformative force - shaping how we respond to global challenges such as AI, inequality and the polycrisis through inclusive dialogue, shared languages, and sustained interdisciplinary collaboration.” Professors Audrey Prost and Doug Bourn, Co-Chairs of UCL Grand Challenge of Cultural Understanding Working Group.
Read the summary report (UCL login required)
Leadership and Next Steps
The new Intercultural Communication theme will be led by Pro-Vice-Provosts (Intercultural Communication). Responsibilities will include defining the theme’s scope, being able to excite and engage people within and beyond UCL about the potential benefits of involvement, to forge internal and external collaborations.