A new feature produced by RFI with the support of Université Paris Cité: ‘Décalages culturels’

The radio program ‘8 milliards de voisins’ is now broadcasting ‘Décalages culturels’, a new RFI feature, produced in partnership with Université Paris Cité and spearheaded by its Educational Innovation Hub (PIP).

Décalages culturels: exploring interculturality through testimonies and analysis

Lasting between 5 and 7 minutes, the programme opens with an account from a student, a lecturer-researcher or an administrative staff member at Université Paris Cité, who shares their experience of a cultural disconnect. This personal account is then put into context by an expert in intercultural relations. Each episode explores a specific theme: country-specific communication norms, time management, attitudes towards hierarchy… Each segment can help overcome misunderstandings arising from cultural differences, and demonstrates just how much one can learn from a new experience.

A collaboration promoting intercultural discussions

Through this partnership, RFI and Université Paris Cité highlight the cultural richness of the academic world, fuelled by its international outlook and sustained by its welcoming policy, whilst offering the general public an insight into the diverse experiences associated with interculturalism. Université Paris Cité draws on a network of 268 partner institutions in 35 countries, and welcomed nearly 10,000 international students, as well as 108 visiting researchers, in 2024–25. Beyond the comical situations and misunderstandings, Décalages Culturels puts these experiences into perspective in order to explain the meaning and value of these exchanges.

A partnership that will extend into the educational sphere

Following their broadcast in French on RFI, these episodes will be available as podcasts on the ‘Le français facile avec RFI’ website. On this digital platform, some will be accompanied by educational resources designed by the Educational Innovation Centre at Université Paris Cité. A simple, flexible and fun way to learn languages differently!

This partnership has been funded as part of the Stand-Up project, under the ‘campus internationalisation’ initiative, which aims to improve the welcome given to international students and academic staff.

Discover the first episodes of Décalages Culturels

Pôle Innovation Pédagogique :

sabrina.dugast@u-paris.fr

Contacts presse :

Université Paris Cité : presse@u-paris.fr

RFI : roland.kouakou@rfi.fr