ATLANTA — Faculty members from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, Glenwood Ross and Cyntoria Johnson, are breaking new ground by taking their study abroad initiatives online. This spring, instead of traveling to distant countries, students engaged in virtual exchanges that connected them with peers in Giza, Egypt, and Cali, Colombia, enhancing their understanding of economics and criminal justice through international lenses.
Ross, an economist, and Johnson, a criminal justice practitioner, effectively used digital platforms to facilitate meaningful interactions between their students and counterparts abroad, avoiding the need for air travel. The innovative method proved beneficial for all participants involved in this digital networking.
“A virtual exchange is a high-impact practice, similar to study abroad, service learning, and hands-on labs,” said Johnson. “It helps broaden students’ horizons and cultivates their cross-cultural competencies and professional skills in collaboration and communication.”
In collaboration with Professor Hassan Aly of Nile University in Egypt, Ross developed a shared virtual exchange module for their undergraduate classes. Ross’ course, The Economics of Cities (ECON4300), and Aly’s Economic Development course brought together a total of 47 students—35 from Georgia State and 12 from Nile University. They organized students into seven mixed teams, each made up of five GSU students and one to two Nile University students.
The teams tackled weekly topics from both U.S. and Egyptian perspectives, addressing subjects such as the “Misery Index,” exchange rates, trade, and poverty. As part of the program, each student was required to actively engage in a weekly discussion board focusing on the week’s topic via Google Groups.
The virtual exchange provided GSU students with unique academic growth opportunities and invaluable cross-cultural exposure. One noteworthy aspect was their initial Zoom meeting, which happened to take place during Ramadan.
“Honoring religious practices required us to meet after sundown in Giza, which fell at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time in Atlanta,” Ross noted. “Many of our students were unfamiliar with Ramadan, providing them with a tremendous opportunity to gain insight into its cultural practices and observances, which they might not have experienced otherwise.”
This virtual exchange was one of three initiatives spearheaded in the spring by the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, supported by the Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Social Impact grant. It was also funded, in part, through the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative, administered by the Aspen Institute and backed by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The program has a commitment to be funded again in 2025, ensuring its sustainability. Meanwhile, Johnson’s virtual exchange course, taught alongside English as a Second Language (ESL) Professor Luis Carlos Montalvo Vidal, emphasized cross-cultural collaboration in a creative and engaging way.
Their course, Rap on Trial, enrolled 26 students who were invited to annotate and translate rap verses, discussing how hip-hop serves as a global art form that addresses social justice issues, opposes oppression, and shapes cultural identities.
Johnson posed a thought-provoking question about language: “When it comes to speaking another language, we criticize others, but how do we sound to them?” This exchange not only boosted the language skills of ESL students at various proficiency levels but also fostered intercultural competencies, digital literacy, and an appreciation for diverse perspectives among GSU students.
In this virtual framework, all participating students earned a digital badge for their accomplishments. Those enrolled in 3000- or 4000-level courses qualified for global distinction at graduation, alongside earning course credits.
Students responded positively to this method of learning. During a debriefing session held by Johnson for her final synchronous class, students offered one-word reflections on their experiences.
“Comments included ‘cool, different, interesting, muy muy interesante, sensational, memorable, all right, unique, would recommend to a friend, entertaining, fun, and innovative,’” Johnson recounted.
“The key is to develop collaborative assignments that encourage students to learn new skills they can showcase when they’re out in the job market,” she added. “We’re aiming to prepare them for competitiveness in the global marketplace.”
More students will have the chance to participate in similar experiences next spring. Johnson has recently received a virtual exchange grant from Georgia State’s Office of International Initiatives/Atlanta Global Studies Center to continue her program.
The renewed funding for these virtual exchange programs reflects a growing interest in intercultural exchange at the Andrew Young School. Faculty and students alike are eager to explore and engage in future virtual exchanges.
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