Intercultural Learning through Crafts in a Nordic-Baltic Context

A Nordplus-funded project titled ‘Higher Education on Craft Traditions’ was established to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing in safeguarding craft traditions in the Nordic-Baltic region. The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge on the intercultural learning outcomes achieved during an intensive craft week that took place in March 2023. This case study describes the contents of this intensive week and analyses the participating students’ reflections (N = 14) on their learning outcomes using thematised content analysis. The main findings were thematised as hands-on crafting and deepening of craft knowledge and intercultural interaction and learning. The results highlight the various possibilities that higher education craft students realise for crafts as a means of facilitating intercultural communication and safeguarding traditions from the past for both the present and the future.