International Conference on Interculturalism and Multiculturalism

Centre for Intercultural Studies (CEI)
Porto Accounting and Business School (ISCAP)
Polytechnic of Porto (P.PORTO)


ICIM’19 @ University of Saint Joseph, Macau, NEWS


The dynamic world that we live in thrives on a multi and intercultural plasticity. As we inhabit complex and ever-changing societies, we need to recognize the multilayered meanings of movement, exchange and communication, as well as the particularities of social, political, economic, and cultural relationships, while enhancing our human abilities of understanding the other and her/his identity.
Reaching towards this goal, the Centre for Intercultural Studies works to provide theoretical and practical spaces for dialogue and multiple recognition. Consequently, this International Conference on Interculturalism and Multiculturalism (ICIM 2019) aims to create a wide-ranging space for the debate of ideas, concerns and work methods on the contemporary intercultural journey. This approach to the diversity and to the transits implied in the concept of ‘intercultural’ opens new paths to examine the motivations, characteristics and conventions of cultural interactions in their perpetual movement, devoid of spatial or temporal borders, in a dangerous but stimulating indefinition of limits.
With a sound eleven year-old record of international conferences and publications, the Centre for Intercultural Studies has got the venue, the know-how, a recognized academic tradition in the field, an active team, and the will to attract researchers from all over the world to Porto, Europe’s best destination.


A selection of papers actually presented at the Conference will be considered for a peer-reviewed international publication with ISBN.


Thematic Panels

1. Theoretical concepts of interculturalism and multiculturalism

Different interpretations of the theoretical concepts of interculturalism and multiculturalism are prone to ambiguities, manipulation and miscommunication, but when studied attentively they can also create new spaces for dialogue and reflection. As communication stands at the core of every cultural interaction, it becomes mandatory to conceptualize, elaborate and develop new approaches to interculturalism and multiculturalism, as fundamental areas for the study of migration, deterritorialization, diaspora, virtuality, digitalization, identity, and so many other phenomena that are actively changing societies. This thematic panel welcomes interdisciplinary approaches and theoretical reflections that may function as platforms for deeper knowledge and mutual understanding.


2. Routes of cultural tourism

International tourism offers an increasing global and intercultural formula where local cultures are, more often than not, introduced as colorful shows for the entertainment of wealthy guests. The common expression ‘Walking in someone else’s shoes’ is a perfect fit for this thematic panel, not just for the actual walking involved in the physical movement of travelling, but also for its metaphoric meaning: the development of new mindsets and cultural interrelations between hosts and guests.
The booming business of tourism is a thriving area, as one must recognize the importance of tourism for the development of any society. However, these economic and cultural conquests must be translated into sustainable and positive outcomes. Studying global tourism does not only means thinking about international economy, but also about issues of identity and difference, representation, heritage, history and transformation of geographical spaces into significant territories.
Porto, Europe’s best destination 2017, is both the setting of ICIM 2019 and a fascinating case study on the progress of tourism in general and on cultural tourism in particular.


3. Multimodal intercultural dialogues

Contemporary societies use intercultural dialogue in the most diverse ways, through social media, street art, and/or performative installations, modeled as mirrors to their evolving cultural mutations. Nowadays, we cannot consider ‘communication’ a general and global method for reaching understanding; instead, we use concepts like multiplicity and diversity transformed into communicative expressions.
Movement, exchange, migration, recognition and interaction are all words that favour openness to the world and the deconstruction of borders. They are symbolic bridges meant to reach a middle common ground instead of an opposite location. ICIM 2019 also intends to function as an open bridge, in other words, as a laboratory for metamorphosis, where different ideologies, backgrounds, methodologies, and approaches are merged and reborn into new expressions of translatable dialogues.


4. Intercultural studies in business

Traditionally, culture has been considered by the business world as a low or difficult profit area, but facts as diverse as the recent trends in tourism, the rise of creative industries, massive migrations, global communication allied to the value of local cultures, or even the need to recognize a business partner’s culture, have shed a new light into the complex relation between culture and economics. Similarly, in the academic world, in order to strengthen and diversify students’ skills and experiences – as required by contemporary global business – one must constantly research, innovate, network, and (re)create teaching methods and resources.
The intercultural and inter-business dialogue must function as a basis to promote translation, integration and innovation, creating a space that accommodates dialogue and exchange alongside profit and production. ICIM 2019 welcomes different perspectives, study areas, work methods, and case studies, so that diversity may generate dynamic and flexible intercultural dialogues… also in business.


Key-note Speakers

Vasco Malta (Portuguese High Commission for Migrations) – Opening Address.
Professor Zehavit Gross (School of Education, Bar-Ilan University, Israel) – “Holocaust Education, Global Citizenship & Intercultural Competence”.
Professor Álvaro Barbosa (Faculty of Creative Industries, University of Saint Joseph, Macau, SAR China) – “Multicultural Perceptions of Sound Universes".
Professor Fred Dervin (University of Helsinki, Finland) – “Interculturality in education: Latest trends”.


Organizing Committee


Scientific Committee


Committee of Honour