COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS: Epistemic Fluency, Transcultural Competence and the Sustainability of Identity

Whilst the ‘hard skills’ of digital technology have simplified the communication process and expanded potential interactive communication opportunities, live interaction on academic teaching and learning tools such as Zoom, creates the possibility of manifesting the authenticity of participatory ‘soft skills’. Transcultural participation requires epistemic fluency and resourcefulness involving a set of capabilities, or ‘soft skills’ for students to develop a critical appreciation of situations with peers, recognizing actions that are systematically desirable and culturally feasible. Since 2021 we have been investigating strategies to support the development of epistemic skills through an innovative transcultural collaboration among professors and students in eight universities across continents and cultures. © 2026 selection and editorial matter, Melanie Agnew and Jos Beelan individual chapters, the contributors.