Empowered Learning Through International Virtual Exchange

Empowered Learning Through International Virtual Exchange is a rich and diverse collection of case studies, theoretical explorations, research projects, and best practices on international virtual exchange. International Virtue Exchange (IVE) offers a powerful alternative to traditional forms of international exchange by leveraging technology to connect individuals and institutions across the globe, providing more accessible and sustainable opportunities for cross-cultural engagement. Using authentic examples from higher education, this edited volume delves into the transformative and concrete impacts of virtual exchange in fostering global connections, removing barriers, and building bridges across cultures and nations. By highlighting successful models, identifying common challenges, and depicting real-world collaborations, these chapters aim to advance the field of IVE and inspire global institutions to adopt and support such initiatives in their own contexts. Researchers, educators, designers and technologists, and policymakers will find a wealth of replicable experiences from Australia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Germany, China, Ireland, Japan, Tunisia, the United States, and elsewhere.

Ethan Trinh is Associate Director of the Atlanta Global Studies Center at Georgia State University, United States. Yali Zhao is Head of International Virtual Exchange Programs and Associate Professor of Social Studies at Georgia State University, United States. Anthony F. Lemieux is Professor of Communication and Founding Co-Director of the Atlanta Global Studies Center at Georgia State University, United States.

PART I: Empowering Virtual Exchanges as Global Bridge-building Practices 1. My Early Days with COIL through the Present: Overcoming Barriers, Developing A Community of Practice, and Seeing Virtual Exchange Take Off! 2. "Building Connections across Different Generations": Undergraduate German Learners' Perspectives on Virtual Intergenerational Service-Learning Exchanges 3. Opposite Sides of the World: The Impact of a Student Virtual Exchange Program through Shared Construction of Knowledge 4. Building from Both Sides: A Virtual Japanese Internship PART II: Virtual Exchange to Promote Cultural Connection and Understanding 5. Promoting Global Connectivity: Building Bridges and Overcoming Hurdles for International Virtual Exchange 6. Crossing Oceans and Building Global Competence Through a Virtual International Partnership 7. Virtual Exchange for International Business Education: A Case Study of Cross-Cultural Collaboration in Global Consulting 8. Nonverbal Communication Considerations in Video Conferencing: Building Intercultural Communication Competence in Virtual Exchange Student Collaborations 9. Building Bridges in Virtual Exchange through Multilingual Approaches PART III: Pedagogical Transformation through Virtual Exchange 10. Digital Diplomacy and Virtual Exchange in Culturally Responsive Educator Preparation 11. Designing Transcontinental Visual Dialogues 12. Empower, Connect, Build: Overcoming Barriers and Bridging Gaps through Virtual Exchange 13. Impact and Implementation of Collaborative Online International Learning in Nursing Education PART IV: Future Directions: Institutional Buy-In and Sustainable Virtual Exchange 14. Enhancing Business Education through SWIF: A High-Impact Virtual Exchange Practice 15. Barriers to Institutional Buy-In for International Virtual Exchange 16. Strategies for Sustainable Virtual Exchange: Institutional Partnerships between Norway, the United States, and Japan Afterword: Virtual Exchange: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow