Communication in International Humanitarian Relief: Profiling Ukrainian Boundary Spanners

Yana Diachkova; Sofiya Nikolaeva; Katherine Guertler

doi:10.36923/jicc.v25i1.1019

Open Access Article Intercultural Communication

Yana Diachkova ⁽¹⁾ , Sofiya Nikolaeva ⁽²⁾ , Katherine Guertler ⁽³⁾

1. Department of Foreign LanguagesTaras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv

2. artment of Pedagogy and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages of the Kyiv National Linguistic

3. Regensburg Technical University of Applied Sciences, Regensburg

https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v25i1.1019

Issue
Vol. 25 No. 1 (2025)

Submitted
2024 November 1

Accepted
2025 January 2

Published
2025 March 19

Keywords:

Boundary Spanning, Higher Educational Institutions, Intercultural Communication, English Language Communicative Competence, Intercultural Competence, Humanitarian Aid, Russia-Ukraine War

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Abstract

Boundary spanning—the actions and roles individuals or organizations undertake to bridge differences and facilitate communication, collaboration, and understanding across diverse cultural, organizational, or geographical divisions—is an essential element of international cooperation. Set against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war, The purpose of this study is to explore the type of boundary spanning in this uncertain context, the linguistic characteristics of boundary spanners, the necessary skills and competencies required to navigate the complex socio-political landscape, and the role of boundary spanners in humanitarian assistance. This study employs a qualitative research approach, using semi-structured interviews with informants actively engaged in relief efforts and cross-cultural collaboration. The findings emphasized the significance of English as the primary language of communication, the importance of cultural sensitivity and awareness, and the need for intercultural competence in effective boundary spanning. The study concludes with insights from the ongoing Ukrainian experience of bridging geodemographic boundaries and the role of boundary spanners in this process, highlighting key aspects of boundary spanning. Overall, the study contributes to the theoretical background of boundary spanning and enhances the understanding of how linguistic and cultural boundary spanning can drive positive change and improve outcomes in humanitarian aid. The implications of this study suggest that underscore the critical need for collaboration with experienced boundary spanners in educational settings.

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Authors

Yana Diachkova

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3145-6695

yanadyachkova24@gmail.com (Primary Contact)

Sofiya Nikolaeva

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2522-2059

Katherine Guertler

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9916-4280

Author Biographies

Yana Diachkova

Yana Diachkova, PhD (Education), is an Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Economics, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine. She has participated in the NATO Professional Development Project in Ukraine as an English teacher for the military and was involved in the national Diya. Business project implemented by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. Her research interests include contemporary higher education trends, teaching English for Specific Purposes, and the integration of modern technologies in education.

Sofiya Nikolaeva

Sofiya Nikolaeva, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, is a Professor and Honored Worker of Education in Ukraine, as well as an Honorary Doctor of Kyiv National Linguistic University. She is a professor in the Department of Pedagogy and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages at Kyiv National Linguistic University, Ukraine. As the head of the “Kyiv Methodological School” and a member of the editorial boards of three scientific journals, her research interests focus on individualization and differentiation in foreign language teaching, autonomy in language learning, and pedagogy and psychology.

Katherine Guertler

Katherine Guertler, PhD (Linguistics), is a Professor of Intercultural Communication and English and the Academic Head of the Foreign Languages Program at OTH Regensburg, a University of Applied Sciences in Germany. Her research interests lie at the intersection of language competence, particularly in English for Specific Purposes, and communication practice, especially in intercultural and political domains.

Diachkova, Y., Nikolaeva, S., & Guertler, K. (2025). Communication in International Humanitarian Relief: Profiling Ukrainian Boundary Spanners. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 25(1), 98-106. https://doi.org/10.36923/jicc.v25i1.1019

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