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The long-running virtual cooperation between Tallinn University and North Central College (Naperville, IL) has ended. This initiative has been jointly led by Professor Anastassia Zabrodskaja (Tallinn University) and Professor Sara Kim, who moved from the University of Louisiana at Monroe to North Central College—prompting the shift in partner institutions. This semester—just as during the four years of collaboration with the University of Louisiana at Monroe—regular online sessions played a central role in the initiative. These meetings provided professors with opportunities to experiment with innovative teaching approaches and explore how intercultural competence intersects with AI-based communication technologies. Students were encouraged to reflect on both human and AI-mediated intercultural encounters, preparing them for a world where communication is increasingly digital and globally connected. For Tallinn University students, these sessions took place from 21:00 to 22:30—late in the evening—yet their commitment never wavered. Their dedication to participating actively despite the time challenges deserves special recognition.

This collaborative work was integrated into the autumn semester and served as a key component of the course Basics of Intercultural Communication at Tallinn University Baltic Film, Media and Arts School. Its main aim was to deepen students’ intercultural understanding while enabling them to critically evaluate how AI-supported platforms influence communication across cultures. Students conducted research projects on topics such as identity and belonging, cultural values and orientations, AI’s role in shaping intercultural interactions, and intercultural conflicts around the world. Through this work, they strengthened essential competencies—including empathy, adaptability, and critical thinking—with particular attention to AI’s increasing influence on these dynamics.

An important part of the experience involves learning to manage misunderstandings generated by AI systems, as these reflect challenges in digital communication. While AI tools can support interaction, they may also misinterpret cultural cues, language nuances, or communicative intent. By learning to identify and address such issues, students strengthen their critical thinking and communication skills—competencies that are becoming increasingly vital as automated systems continue to evolve.

Equally important is the development of tolerance, patience, and intercultural sensitivity in online environments. Virtual communication often brings together individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, and differences in language, habits, and perspectives can lead to misunderstandings. Approaching such moments with openness and respect helps students build more empathetic and effective global communication practices. These competencies are essential for working in multicultural teams and for fostering constructive, respectful relationships across cultures.

One day before the Communication Management MA students completed their fifth year of telecollaboration, they celebrated the program’s 12th anniversary with a cake titled “TELECOLLABORATION 5.”

And that was the secret: TELECOLLABORATION 5 honored the students’ fifth year of telecollaboration—a milestone wrapped inside the program’s twelfth-birthday celebration. A perfect reason for cake… and an even better reason to look forward to what comes next.

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For additional information, please reach out to Dr. Anastassia Zabrodskaja, Professor of Intercultural Communication, Head of the MA Program in Communication Management, and Executive Director of the European Masters in Intercultural Communication, at anastassia.zabrodskaja@tlu.ee.