Virtual Exchange Past Projects

How do Japanese speakers (learners) choose their first-person pronouns? Compare and contrast pronoun choices and how to express identities between two countries – Japan

Taeko Namura, lecturer in World Languages & Cultures, is collaborating with Dr. Sajjad Pouromid, a Professor at Kansai University in Japan, on a Virtual Exchange Project in the undergraduate Japanese language course. This project delves into the intricate realm of Japanese first-person pronouns, exploring how their selection is intricately tied to various factors such as politeness, gender, affinity for community and even resistance against societal stereotypes. Through virtual platforms, students participating in this initiative will engage in meaningful dialogues with their international peers, probing into their choices of first-person pronouns and gaining insights into the cultural perspectives that underpin them. Following these interactions, students will analyze their counterparts’ responses and subsequently share their reflections on the myriad influences that shape individuals’ pronoun choices. Beyond its linguistic focus, this project promises to foster students’ intercultural competence, heighten their awareness of language nuances, and enhance their digital communication skills by facilitating a comparative exploration of two cultures through the lens of language usage analysis.

Proposal for Teacher Exchange in Graduate Level Mathematics Teaching Courses – Spain

Dr. Karie Brown, an Assistant Professor in Math Education, implements a Virtual Exchange Project in her graduate course “Supporting Mathematical Reasoning: Algebra, Geometry, and Measurement.” This project is in collaboration with Dr. Soraya García Esteban from the Universidad de Alcalá in Guadalajara, Spain. It brings together graduate student teachers from the GSU Urban Accelerated Certification and Master’s Program in Atlanta with teacher researchers in Guadalajara, aiming to deepen their insights into teaching multilingual elementary students. Through activities encompassing lesson planning, video sharing, and cross-cultural discussions, participants will expand their pedagogical horizons. Each member will contribute by creating and sharing a lesson video, observing others from both locations, and actively engaging in weekly discussions that center on best teaching practices, student development, and comprehensive understanding. The seamless collaboration is facilitated through the upload and sharing of lessons via https://mediaspace.asu.edu.

Collaborative Online International Learning between GSU and Howest University – Belgium

Dr. Veronica Rowe, an Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy, is collaborating on a Virtual Exchange Project graduate course “Neurologic Assessment & Intervention II” with Dr. Anne Dejager and Dr. Siska Vandemaele at Howest University in Belgium. This innovative initiative connects occupational therapy students from GSU and Howest University. Through an online module, students from GSU and Howest University jointly examine an occupational therapy case from a global perspective, bridging the gap between the two countries. This collaborative endeavor involves an in-depth exploration of occupational therapy services for clients with brain injuries, encompassing both professional considerations such as methods and techniques and sociocultural aspects, including healthcare system nuances, insurance issues, service institutions, organizational structures, policies and cultural attitudes.

 Virtual Exchange in Mental Health Education for Improved Cultural Competency – Hong Kong, China

Dr. Claudette Spencer, an Assistant Professor in Nursing, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project in her undergraduate course “Mental Health NURS” with Dr. Kirsten Fu at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) in China. This four-week initiative facilitates meaningful interactions between students from GSU and Hong Kong on the Flipgrid platform, guided by a curated set of discussion questions. These questions are designed to extract valuable cultural insights, with the overarching goal of enhancing cultural competence within the clinical setting. Through this project, participants will embark on a journey of cross-cultural discovery and learning that promises to enrich their nursing practice in a global context.

Stories,Not Reports: Crafting Contemporary International Business Cases – Turkey 

Mr. Cazembe Monds is partnering with Dr. Pinar Büyükbalciat Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul, Tukey, to lead a Virtual Exchange project centered around having undergraduate students prepare written cases about contemporary international business topics. The case subjects vary from multinational enterprises, IB industries and disciplines (i.e., the auto industry and supply chain and logistics), new technological advancements (i.e., the use of artificial intelligence in firms), and more. For their cases, students are being asked to draft “stories”, and not reports, to describe scenarios and topical developments clearly and smoothly in the international business discipline that capture the reader’s attention. Alongside the written cases, teams will also be recording virtual presentations so they can gain some experience in conveying information in a professional manner. To undertake the team projects, students will be utilizing a variety of online platforms like e-mail, WhatsApp, Zoom, WebEx, and Google Docs/Sheets to communicate and collaborate with their Turkish partners.

The Global Environment and Market Opportunity – Finland

Dr. Salomao De Farias, Clinical Associate Professor in International Business, is collaborating on a dynamic Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Anisur Faroque at the University of Vaasa in Finland. Students form cross-national teams and complete a macroenvironmental analysis using PESTEL framework (Political, Economic, Sociocultural, Technological, Environmental, and Legal) for a country, either Africa, Asia, or South America and justify why they chose the region and the country. The objective is to better understand the key external factors that can influence or inhibit internationalization decisions using PESTEL framework. Each team will present a well-reasoned PESTEL analysis and articulate the rationale for why a firm should consider investing in the chosen country, delivering a holistic perspective that encompasses both global business dynamics and industry-specific considerations.

Virtual Exchange of Culture – India

Lecturer Hosanna Fletcher in sociology implements Virtual Exchange Project across multiple undergraduate sociology courses. This initiative is collaborative efforts with Assistant Professor Maria Aishwarya at Stella Maris College in India. This project serves as an insightful introduction to the sociological concept of culture and cross-cultural competencies, encouraging students to explore differences in stratification and education by drawing upon personal cultural examples. The project leverages a diverse set of digital tools, including WebEx for class and group meetings, Padlet for the engaging cultural collage assignment, and numbeo.com for conducting comparative research on stratification. Furthermore, students have the flexibility to utilize graphic design sharing software of their choice, fostering a collaborative and interactive learning experience that transcends geographical boundaries.

International Collaborative Learning in an Astronomy Class – Chile

Dr. David Yenerall in Physical Science integrates Virtual Exchange Project in the undergraduate course “Stellar and Galactic Astronomy.” This initiative is a collaborative venture with Professor Carol Rojas at University Central Region in Chile. Students enrolled in this course work collaboratively with global partners to tackle open-ended questions and collaboratively create informative video presentation. To facilitate this cross-national collaboration, the project leverages Microsoft Teams (TEAMS), providing a seamless platform for students to connect, exchange ideas, and engage in collaborative learning experiences that transcend geographical boundaries.

Astrobiology Virtual Fieldtrip Collaboration – Australia

Dr. David Yenerall in Physical Science implements Virtual Exchange project in undergraduate course “Life in the Universe”. He is partnering with Professor Carol Oliver at University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia. In this course, students embark on a virtual journey to explore the unique hot springs in both New Zealand and Chile. GSU undergraduate students collaborate closely with graduate students from UNSW, working together to study and analyze these virtual sites. They collectively curate a collaborative field notebook, pooling their insights and observations. To facilitate this immersive experience, the project relies on a Virtual Field Trip platform hosted on the UNSW server, providing students with an interactive and informative platform to explore and document their findings.

Global Market Assessment: Africa

Principal Senior Lecturer Dr. Vandana Pednekar-Magal in International Business is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Asma Chaibi at South Mediterranean University in Tunisia. The team conducts PESTEL analysis in an assigned country and submits a three-page narrative summarizing the analysis and makes recommendations to would-be international investors on doing business in the specific country.  To facilitate this engaging exchange of knowledge, students utilize various digital communication platforms such as email, WhatsApp, and Zoom.

Global Emerging Trends, and Disruptive Innovations in Media Markets: Causes and Consequences – Indonesia

Principal Senior Lecturer Dr. Vandana Pednekar-Magal in International Business is collaborating on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Rouli Manalu at Diponegoro University (UNDIP) in Indonesia. This project offers students an experiential opportunity to analyze a country’s macroenvironment and comprehend its influence on local markets, with a specific focus on the media product market. Students will employ PESTEL framework, which encompasses Political, Economic, Sociocultural, Technological, Environmental, and Legal factors, to gain insights into the market dynamics. In addition, students identify and describe one transformative media technology / a global trend in media industry and/or innovations that have significantly impacted the country’s media landscape. Communication and collaboration are facilitated through WhatsApp, Email, and Google Docs.

Africa-Global Events, Emerging Trends, and Disruptive Innovations: Causes & Consequences – Nigeria

Dr. Temel Cuneyt Evirgen in International Business is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Professor Nkemdilim Iheanachor at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University in Nigeria. The project will entail identifying transformative global events, trends, and/or innovations (ETIs) significantly affecting the global or regional landscape, and critically assessing how these trends impact our lives. We are witnessing today major events, emerging trends and disruptive innovations that are affecting the political, economic, and sociocultural landscape at the global, regional, country, firm and individual levels. From pandemics, to supply chain disruptions, to global warming, a number of black swans and grey rhinos are reshaping our world. Stakeholders affected include regions, nations, MNEs, SMEs, individuals, and everything in between. In this project, students will accord special consideration to Africa as the last frontier in the international business arena and explore how the ETIs identified impact various stakeholders on the African continent, especially multinational enterprises (MNEs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Misinformation and Disinformation in the Media – Philippines

Assistant Professor Dr. Jay Dunn and Emily Blalock in Physical Science/Life and Earth Sciences are partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Professor Aleli Saavedra at San Pedro College in Philippines. Students will engage in the analysis of examples of misinformation and/or disinformation that they have encountered on social media in their own culture. They will then share this information with their international partners. Students will compare these social media posts. Interaction will occur via discussion posts and videos.

U.S. – Portugal Business opportunities in Africa

Associate Professor Dr. Salomao De Farias in International Business is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Professor Irma Imamovic at the Portuguese Institute of Marketing Management (IPAM) in Portugal. The project will entail researching, identifying, and analyzing business opportunities for a Portuguese company to invest abroad. The company is Qubitz, an innovative and forward-thinking technology startup that uniquely combines the realms of blockchain and artificial intelligence to create innovative solutions. Students will perform a PESTEL and Market opportunity analysis as a team. The focus of the project is Africa. The collaborative effort is facilitated through the use of various communication platforms, including MS Teams, Webex, and Zoom.

Global Market Assessment: Africa

Associate Professor Dr. Salomao De Farias in International Business is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Asma Chaibi at MSB – Mediterranean School of Business in Tunisia. The project will entail researching, identifying, and analyzing business opportunities in Africa. We focus on Africa because it is the last frontier in the international business arena. About a third of the fastest-growing economies are in Africa. While natural resources have for the most part been the focus of Africa’s international engagement, many economies throughout Africa are becoming more diversified, and complex, and are presenting business opportunities in various sectors including healthcare, ICT, consumer goods, infrastructure, and a wide array of B2B and B2C.

Promoting Cross-cultural Understanding and Children’s Rights through Collaborative Work – Hong Kong, China

Associate Professor Dr. Yali Zhao in Social Studies is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Yanling Zhou, Assistant Professor at the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) in China. Students develop global and cross-cultural understanding of different cultures and education systems to better serve their culturally diverse students. GSU students in two social studies methods classes and EdUHK students in education programs meet virtually and share diverse culture and teaching experiences. Students will engage in human rights dialogues and collaborate on a project that addresses children’s rights issues and promotes children’ rights. Flipgrid, Padlet, and Zoom are used for sharing video presentations and discussions.

Africa – Business opportunities and risks in International Business – Morocco

Dr. Reyes Vivas in International Business is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Abderrahman JASSIM at ESCA Business School in Casa Blanca, Morocco.  In this project, students will accord special consideration to Africa as a potential market in the international business field, and explore how the global events, trends, and/or innovations (ETIs) will offer different perspectives to foreign and domestic investors, especially multinational enterprises (MNEs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). While natural resources traditionally have been the main interest of Africa’s global potential, higher interest in this continent is evolving to a more innovative, diversified, and complex region that offers chances to enter a more diversified and unique type of international business.  As a result, the GSU and ESCA students who will work on this project will have the chance to learn the particularities of doing international business, sharing cross-cultural experiences and acquiring communication skills when dealing with international teammates. Students will be able to recommend domestic and international companies’ ways to be more successful by taking advantage of the most relevant opportunities and facing effectively the most challenging threads and risks by making wise decisions and implementing bold strategies.

Synthetic Biology Related Project – China

Senior Lecturer Dr. Jonathan Sylvester in Biology is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Xinhe Huang, Professor at Southwest Jiaotong Univeristy (SWJTU) in China. Students utilize Zoom and VoiceThread to work on course-related project to facilitate intercultural collaboration and communication in the field of Biology.

Cross Cultural Collaboration via Virtual Exchange Activities in large Biology courses – China

Senior Lecturer of Biology, Dr. Hongmei Zhang, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Xinhe Huang at Southwest Jiaotong University in China. Students in both countries utilize Zoom and VoiceThread to construct concept maps based on course content to facilitate intercultural collaboration and communication in the field of Biology. Discipline-related projects and cultural-related meetings are scheduled to promote cross-cultural collaboration in large Biology courses.

Collaborative International Learning in the Virtual Exchange of Spanish and English as Foreign Languages and Cultures – Honduras

Clinical Associate Professor Dr. Jose Cortes in the Humanities is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Professor Maybel Cisneros Canales in Honduras. Students of Spanish 1002 will have the opportunity to connect and interact with Honduras students from the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Francisco Morazán in Honduras. The internationalization of the Spanish curriculum will contribute to achieving global awareness and intercultural communication. Particularly, Honduras students of English as a second language will participate in this VE project. GSU and Honduras students and faculty will collaborate in facilitating the learning of Spanish and English as foreign languages and cultures through online platforms.

Global ETIs – Global Virtual Teams Project – South Africa

Associate Dean for International Student Engagement and Partnerships Dr. Mourad Dakhli in International Business is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Carolyn Chisadza at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. This group project involves cross-border collaboration between students at GSU and the University of Pretoria, focusing on the impact of global events, trends, and innovations (ETIs) on sustainable development. Students will select one transformative ETI from a provided list, which includes topics like the global financial crisis, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic, and critically assess its effects on lives and livelihoods. The students will particularly consider the impact of these ETIs on Africa, examining how they affect stakeholders in various economic sectors. This includes regions, nations, multinationals and small to medium enterprises, and individuals across sectors like manufacturing, education, health, and more. This project is a valuable use of GSU resources, fostering international collaboration and providing a comprehensive understanding of global issues.

Bilingual Language Practice and Intercultural Competency through Virtual Exchange – Honduras

Senior Lecturer Stephanie Langston in the Humanities is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Professor Clara Elizabeth Chavez Luna at the Universidad Pedagógica Nacional Francisco Morazán in Honduras. Students of an English class in Honduras and a GSU Perimeter College Spanish class will use both languages to share, compare and contrast cultural traditions. The goals are language practice and intercultural competency. They will either interview one another or deliver mini lessons. At the culmination of the project, students will produce a work product, which may include videos, Google Slides presentations, posters, and more, showcasing their newfound insights and intercultural appreciation.

Bridging Continents: A Borderless Classroom Experience Uniting Students from Across the Americas to Solve the Expansion Puzzle of an Atlanta-based minority-owned SME planning to expand its business into Latin America – Argentina

Dr. Evaristo Fernando Doria in International Business is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Alberto Terlato and Maria Andrea Alegre in University of CEMA in Argentina. In a dynamic cross-cultural learning program, students will collaborate with peers from Buenos Aires, Argentina, during a four-week virtual exchange. The project includes two key components. 1). Country Analysis: In the initial two weeks, students create a video presentation examining the business landscapes of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia, using frameworks such as PESTEL, Four Risks in International Business and Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions. 2). Case Study and Paper: During the subsequent two weeks, students analyze a video case featuring an Atlanta-based minority-owned company, followed by the preparation of a comprehensive paper addressing specific case-related questions.

Global ETIs – Global Virtual Teams Project – South Africa

Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Edward Wang in International Business is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Carolyn Chisadza at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. This group project involves cross-border collaboration between students at GSU and the University of Pretoria, focusing on the impact of global events, trends, and innovations (ETIs) on sustainable development. Students will select one transformative ETI from a provided list, which includes topics like the global financial crisis, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic, and critically assess its effects on lives and livelihoods. The students will particularly consider the impact of these ETIs on Africa, examining how they affect stakeholders in various economic sectors. This includes regions, nations, multinationals and small to medium enterprises, and individuals across sectors like manufacturing, education, health, and more. This project is a valuable use of GSU resources, fostering international collaboration and providing a comprehensive understanding of global issues.

VE for Global Advocacy

Clinical Associate Professor, Dr. Ruchi Bhatnagar is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Paulina P S YUEN, a professor at Hong Kong Baptist University in Hong Kong. US and Hong Kong students will get enlightened about global issues and decide on one issue that they will collaborate on together as global partners to bring positive change. Each group will have 3 GSU students and 2-3 HKBU students. Issues could be related to global warming, wars, misinformation etc. Students will become educated about these issues at a global level, provide solutions, and engage in advocacy to address the issue as a group

Multi-ethnic American Identity 

Assistant Professor, Dr. Michelle Kassorla is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Wisam Chaleila, a professor at Al-Qasemi College of Education. Students utilize Canvas in addition to Google Drive, YouTube, and Zotero to explore American identity through contemporary Multi-ethnic American Literature. As a final project, teams of students from Israel and America are working on a definition of what an American is: Who is an American? What does an American look like? What is the culture of America? What are American Ideals? Those definitions are based on our class readings and discussions. Through exploring these questions, students are provided a variety of perspectives on American Identity. 

Analyzing Multicultural Conversations as Sociolinguistic Phenomena – Kazakhstan

Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics Dr. Stephanie Lindemann, is partnering on a virtual exchange project with Dr. Yelena Kandalina, Associate Professor of Foreign Philology at Baitursynov Kostanay Regional University in Kazakhstan. Students in sociolinguistics classes in both countries meet multiple times for conversation. They record and transcribe their conversations, analyzing them in terms of sociolinguistic phenomena of their choosing. Students present their findings to all students participating in the project.

Case Studies: Opportunities & Risk Assessment across Africa

Clinical Professor of International Business Dr. Mourad Dakhli,  is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Mediterranean School of Business in Tunis, Tunisia. Using the PESTEL microenvironmental assessment framework, mixed student teams complete a consulting project that assesses market attractiveness in preassigned African economies. Student reports are then redrafted into mini case studies addressing doing business in selected African economies. Best cases are submitted for conference presentations and students are invited to share their research with the membership of the U.S.-Africa Chamber of Commerce at their annual trade and investment conference.

Collaborative Learning in an Introductory Astronomy Class – Chile

Physical Sciences Lecturer Dr. David L. Yenerall Jr., is implementing a Virtual Exchange Project with students in Chile. This Virtual Exchange facilitates cultural and scientific collaboration between students at Perimeter College and students in Chile. Participants construct knowledge through collaborative learning in which they work with their counterparts to answer questions, discuss concepts, create a presentation, and engage in comparative astronomical observations. Further, participants virtually tour a world class astronomical observatory and learn about the people of the international consortium of countries that manage the facility. Participants engage in discourse with students from a different location and culture other than their own. The convergence of the cultures is where the construction of knowledge occurs in a way that is unique to the international collaboration of this Virtual Exchange. GSU students work collaboratively to answer open ended questions and create presentations to showcase their work.

Comparing Responses to Climate Change Issues Through a Cultural Lens – Viet Nam

Principal Senior Lecturer of Political Science Dr. Laura Hastings, is implementing a Virtual Exchange project that asked the question, “How are the residents of Ho Chi Minh City responding to issues of climate change, compared to those of Georgia?”  Students choose a similar question within the larger topic of “climate change” and undertake a comparative analysis of policies, behaviors, or attitudes of people in Georgia and in Ho Chi Minh City. Small groups of US and Viet Nam students arrange a video conference that all students are encouraged to join. Once the project begins, students must work together in the groups to come up with, and agree on, a research question. Students may also consider alternative hypotheses to the question. Groups are encouraged to design and conduct a survey to test their theories.  If groups choose the survey research method, they will come up with a list of questions aimed at extracting specific data from a particular group of people. Each student group produces either a video or a PowerPoint with narration, and all students who participate in the group will contribute to the final video or narration product.

Cross Cultural Collaboration & Teaching English in Guyana and the USA (Georgia)

Associate Professor Dr. Michelle Zoss, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Bonita Hunter, Professor at the University of Guyana. A several-weeks long dialogic exchange takes place between teacher candidates completing field experiences toward certification. The exchange culminates with a presentation among the group to showcase the conversations among pairs of students and their learning across the spring term.

Digital Information Event – Belgium

Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Applied Linguistics Hae Sung Yang, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Saar Clinckspoor of Howest University in Belgium. Howest students taking Business Communications host a digital information event in English. As speakers of English as a foreign language, Howest students are willing to work with GSU students in the TEFL course in the process of preparing for and delivering their presentation for their digital information event. GSU students will be the main audience of the event.

Educational Leadership- Virtual Exchange between Georgia State University and Africa Renewal University

Lecturer Will Rumbaugh, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Mark Walugembe, Professor at Africa Renewal University. The Virtual Exchange project advances this global perspective through a burgeoning relationship between the GSU and Africa Renewal University (AfRU) in Buloba, Uganda (a “suburb” of Kampala). CEHD’s Educational Policy Studies will offer in Spring 2023 the graduate course EPEL 7000- Educational Leadership & Organizational Culture. Concurrently, at AfRU, select students in the Education department are taking a newly developed “short course certificate” program, which introduces students to foundational concepts related to learning and teaching. Students at both universities participate in a six to eight-week collaborative process (with a culminating product) to share their diverse educational experiences from different geographical locations. The aim is for this exchange to contribute to a growing intercultural competence and global competitiveness in students at GSU and at AfRU.

Emerging Trends & Innovations: Causes & Consequences – Egypt

Clinical Professor of International Business Dr. Mourad Dakhli, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Department of Business Administration at Nile University in Egypt. Students work in cross-border virtual teams to complete a critical assessment writing essay. This VE project entails identifying transformative global events, trends, and/or innovations (ETIs) significantly affecting the global or regional landscape, and critically assessing how these trends impact different stakeholders. In this project, special consideration is given to Africa as the last frontier in the international business arena. Students explore how the ETIs identified impact various stakeholders on the continent, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The virtual teams’ research on emerging trends in international business and their implications are summarized and presented case summaries. The summaries are then shared with business partners through a collaborative initiative with the US-Africa Chamber of Commerce whose membership includes SMEs in various industries that are interested in cross-border exchange with Africa.

Emerging Trends in Global Business – South Africa

Clinical Professor of International Business Dr. Mourad Dakhli, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the College of Business and Management at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Students work in cross-border virtual teams to complete a critical assessment essay. This VE project entails identifying transformative global events, trends, and/or innovations (ETIs) significantly affecting the global or regional landscape, and critically assessing how these trends impact different stakeholders with an emphasis on SMEs and other stakeholders in Africa.

Emerging Trends in Global Business – Egypt

International Business Instructor Don Williams, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Department of Business Administration at Alexandria University in Egypt. Students work in cross-border virtual teams to complete a critical assessment essay. This VE project entails identifying transformative global events, trends, and/or innovations (ETIs) significantly affecting the global or regional landscape, and critically assessing how these trends impact different stakeholders with an emphasis on SMEs and other stakeholders in Africa.

Global Virtual Exchange: Global Aging and Families – Costa Rica 

Associate Professor Heying Jenny Zhan, is implementing a Virtual Exchange Project in an upper division undergraduate sociology course designed to introduce population aging at a global level with global perspectives. Students at GSU will study together with students at Catholic University of Costa Rica. The class also contains an optional week of study abroad in Costa Rica during the spring break where students will meet face-to-face with students in Costa Rica.

Global Events, Emerging Trends, and Disruptive Innovations: Causes & Consequences – Africa Perspective

Clinical Associate Professor of International Business Dr. Salomao De Farias, is partnering with a virtual exchange project with the ESCA Business School in Casa Blanca, Morocco to offer students the opportunity to work in cross-border virtual teams to complete a critical assessment essay. This VE project entails identifying transformative global events, trends, and/or innovations (ETIs) significantly affecting the global or regional landscape, and critically assessing how these trends impact our lives. In this project, special consideration is given to Africa as the last frontiers in the international business arena, and students explore how the ETIs identified impact various stakeholders on the continent, especially multinational enterprises (MNEs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The pandemic notwithstanding, about a third of the fastest growing economies are in Africa. While natural resources have for the most part been the focus of Africa’s global engagement, many economies throughout Africa are becoming more innovative, diversified, and complex.

International Case Comparison of Brain Injury Rehabilitation (ICC-BIR) –  Belgium 

Assistant Professor Dr. Veronica Rowe, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Siska Vandemaele , Professor at Howest University. Students from GSU and Howest work together on an occupational therapy case from a broad, international perspective. Students define questions for their case comparison. They investigate and compare the quality of OT services for clients with brain injuries from two perspectives: The professional perspective (methods and techniques, attitudes and organizational structures), and the sociocultural perspective (health care system aspects such as insurance issues, service institutions, organizational structures, policies, cultural attitudes). Based upon their research (sources, interviews) and discussions, they write a joint “Case comparison” report comparing the case from perspectives of both countries.

Learning About Different Education and Culture Through Virtual Exchange – China 

Associate Professor of Social Studies and Multicultural Education Dr. Yali Zhao, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Xue Qiaoqiao and Liu Qiang, Professors at Sichuan Normal University. Students develop global and cross-cultural understanding of diverse cultures and education systems. Students have reciprocal learning opportunities to share views pertaining to various educational issues at the time of global Pandemic with international education students. Computer-mediated technology and web-based technologies, including Flipgrid and Padlet, are used for sharing video presentations and discussions.

Marketing, AI, and Ethics – Belgium

Lecturer Dr. Carrie L. Whitney, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Frank Vandenheede, Professor at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences. Students are asked how marketers use AI to create content and what ethical questions are involved. Students gain background knowledge through a series of articles, videos and podcasts in Teams and then use an AI platform to create sample digital content based on an assigned topic. They also create sample digital content using human intelligence (HI). The groups share the content and others try to determine whether content was created using AI or HI – students vote, and results of the polls are shared. Finally, everyone participates in a discussion board relating what they learned during the experience.

Model United Nations: The EU and Its Institutions and Challenges – Belgium

Assistant Professor of History, Political Science Dr. Stacey Mitchell, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Geert Kestelyn, Professor at Thomas More University (TMU), in Mechelen, Belgium. GSU Perimeter students work in groups with students from TMU on a project about the different types of challenges and requirements Georgia companies need to address to do business in the EU. Additionally, students attend virtual lectures by Dr. Kestelyn about the EU, its institutions and challenges and lectures by Dr. Mitchell on US foreign policy.

Model United Nations: International Peacebuilding Simulation – Pakistan

Professor Dr. Rashid Naim, Principle Senior Lecturer, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Murad Ali at the University of Malakland to implement a project with a peacebuilding simulation exercise for students. They are assigned roles that correspond to those of domestic and international actors engaged in real-life peacebuilding operations, currently ongoing. They engage together in problem-solving in response to a scenario created by the instructors. This exchange involves research, written briefing papers, a series of reflection papers, and teamwork to negotiate a solution.

Synthetic Biology/iGEM Related Project – China

Senior Lecturer of Biology Dr. Jonathan Sylvester, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Xinhe Huang, Professor at Southwest Jiaotong Univeristy (SWJTU). Students utilize Zoom and VoiceThread to work on a course related project to facilitate intercultural collaboration and communication in the field of Biology.

The Global Environment and Market Opportunity – Portugal

Clinical Associate Professor of International Business Dr. Salomao De Farias, is partnering with a virtual exchange project with the IPAM located in O Porto, Portugal to offer students the opportunity to work in cross-border virtual teams to complete a ‘Consultancy’ project. This VE project entails researching, identifying, and analyzing business opportunities for a Portuguese company to invest abroad. The company is BROOLLS. The objective of this assignment is for students to master the art and science of analyzing business opportunities and identifying risks in international economies, conduct primary and secondary research, and make data-driven recommendations. In addition, students employ data visualization for exploration and sensemaking. Furthermore, students work in international virtual teams, one of the most effective ways to develop cross-cultural competencies and a global mindset.

The Impact of Virtual Exchange on Intercultural Engagement Across Contexts: VE GSU-MUC – Jamaica

Clinical Associate Professor in Middle and Secondary Education Dr. Chantee Earl, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Professor Deserene Burrell-Ingram at The Mico University College. Students engage in a comparative study of the United States and Caribbean contemporary social studies content. Through discussions, assignments, and microteaching activities, students will participate in this dynamic intercultural experience and exchange.

World Foods: Connecting Students in India and the U.S.

Associate Professor Dr. Nida Shaikh, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Jagmeet Madan, Professor at Sir Vithaldas Thackersey College of Home Science (Autonomous) SNDT Women’s University. The project provides students with a window into the world of food and culture. Students engage in asynchronous group activities in iCollege to compare and reflect on their favorite foods and their origins, the food in their refrigerators, and collaborate on a group presentation about a festive cultural meal of their choice (e.g. a Polish Christmas Eve dinner).

Business Case Research and Writing

Clinical Professor of International Business, Dr. Mourad Dakhli, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Department of Business Administration at Alexandria University in Egypt. Students work in cross-border virtual teams to complete a critical assessment essay. This VE project entails identifying transformative global events, trends, and/or innovations (ETIs) significantly affecting the global or regional landscape, and critically assessing how these trends impact different stakeholders. In this project, special consideration is given to Africa as the last frontier in the international business arena, and students explore how the ETIs identified impact various stakeholders on the continent, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the State of Georgia or on the African continent. The virtual teams’ research on emerging trends in international business is then summarized and shared with business partners through a collaborative initiative with the US-Africa Chamber of Commerce whose membership includes SMEs in various industries that are interested in cross-border business between the U.S. and Africa.

Collaborative Learning in an Introductory Astronomy Class

Physical sciences Lecturer Dr. David L. Yenerall Jr., is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with students in Chile. This Virtual Exchange facilitates cultural and scientific collaboration between the students at Perimeter College and students in Chile. Participants construct knowledge through collaborative learning in which they work with their counterparts to answer questions, discuss concepts, create a presentation, or engage in comparative astronomical observations. Further, participants virtually tour a world class astronomical observatory and learn about the people of the international consortium of countries that manage the facility. Participants engage in discourse with students from a different location and culture other than their own. The convergence of the cultures is where the construction of knowledge occurs in a way that is unique to the international collaboration of this Virtual Exchange.

Discourse Analysis

Associate Professor Dr. Viviana Cortes is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto (UNRC), Cordoba, Argentina. The project focuses on teaching a class to two cohorts of MA students in Applied Linguistics, one at GSU and one at UNRC. The class is a discourse analysis course taught in F2F mode for the GSU students and fully online for the UNRC students. Students work synchronously in groups on class discussions, micro research projects, and project presentations and work asynchronously with readings materials and discussions. Several assignments in the class have been designed to be worked on in pairs or small groups, with students from both groups working together.

Enhancing Global Learning in Large Introductory Biology Classes

Senior Lecturer of Biology, Dr. Hongmei Zhang, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Jian Wu, Professor at Southwest Jiaotong University. Students utilize Zoom and VoiceThread to construct concept maps based upon course content to facilitate intercultural collaboration and communication in the field of Biology. 

Exploring Diversity Through Global Perspectives

Exploring Diversity Through Global Perspectives Professor Dr. Gyewon Jang, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Kwansei Gakuin University. Students at GSU and KGU collaborate to research how various aspects of diversity are understood, represented, and practiced in their own and counterpart's sociocultural and sociopolitical contexts. Working in small groups, students decide on a research topic and research question(s), conduct interviews with their global collaborators, and present their research findings. Students are asked to write an individual paper to reflect their research experience and intercultural collaboration. In addition, each instructor makes and shares an online lecture video with students in US and Japan, so that students can learn different teaching styles and social issues related to diversity by engaging global exchanges.

Exploring International Virtual Exchange to Facilitate Personal Development and Learning of Undergraduate Health Students 

Clinical Instructor of Exercise Science, Courtney Strosnider, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the North-West University (NWU). Students from GSU and NWU discuss the importance of healthy living, what it means to live a healthy lifestyle, barriers to living a healthy lifestyle, and how culture influences health and barriers to health. Groups of GSU and NWU students work on a case study project together. Each group has a patient who is living with chronic disease and needs to make behavior changes to improve health-related quality of life. The students discuss what behavior changes their patient needs to make, address barriers their patient has to overcome in order to life a healthier lifestyle and develop ways to motivate their patient to make the necessary behavior changes. Throughout the discussions, the students acknowledge and describe how cultural differences may impact their patient’s ability to make behavior changes.

Georgia companies doing business in the European Union

Professor of History, Political Science Dr. Stacey Mitchell, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Thomas More University (TMU), in Mechelen, Belgium. GSU Perimeter students work in groups with students from TMU on a project about the different types of challenges and requirements Georgia companies need to address to do business in the EU.

Global Aging and Social Policies

Professor of Gerontology, Sociology Dr. Heying Zhan, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics. This Global Virtual Exchange course brings the topic of population aging at a global level into the virtual global classroom. Upper-division undergraduate students at Georgia State University and Graduate students at Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics in Hangzhou China meet in the same virtual classroom to share learning of issues related to global aging, global families, and social policies.

Grand Challenges Design

Associate Professor of Computer Science & Engineering Dr. Sahithya Reddivari, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Batangas State University. In 2008 the National Academy of Engineers gathered an international group of leading technological thinkers to identify the Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st century. This group identified 14 game-changing goals for improving life on the planet that fall into four cross-cutting themes: SUSTAINABILITY, HEALTH, SECURITY, and JOY OF LIVING. Over the years, experts worldwide have been developing potential solutions to address global challenges. In this project, students learn about existing solutions for the grand challenges, develop an innovation of their own, and present their work to peers.

Implementation of Precalculus Projects Involving Concepts Across the Globe Through Virtual Exchange

Mrs. Sutandra Sarkar, Academic Professional of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Oduduwa University of Nigeria. Students utilize WebEx Teams space as well as Discord or Slack to discuss mathematical applications in contemporary world topics, such as the Suez Canal or the Corona Virus pandemic. Students from different parts of the globe collaborate, explore, and connect concepts with current world events to observe the relevance of learning skills and tools for introductory mathematics programs. Students also explore how their respective cultural and political background might impact implementing theoretical ideas.

International Peacebuilding Simulation

Professor of Political Science Dr. Carrie Manning, Principal Senior Lecturer of Political Science, Dr. Laura Hastings, and Principal Senior Lecturer Dr. Rashid Naim are partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the University of Strasbourg's Sciences Po' (Institute for Political Studies). GSU students engage in a joint international peacebuilding simulation exercise with the partner university students. They are assigned roles that correspond to those of domestic and international actors engaged in Mali's real-life peacebuilding operation, currently ongoing. They engage together in problem-solving in response to a scenario created by the instructors. This exchange involves research, written briefing papers, a series of reflection papers, and teamwork to negotiate a solution.

Multi-ethnic American Identity

Associate Professor of English, Dr. Michelle Kassorla, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Head of the English Department of Al-Qasemi College of Education in Baqa al-Gharbiyye in the Haifa District in Israel, Dr. Wisam Chaleila. Students utilize Canvas in addition to Google Drive, YouTube, and Zotero to explore American identity through contemporary Multi-ethnic American Literature. As a final project, teams of students from Israel and America are working on a definition of what an American is: Who is an American? What does an American look like? What is the culture of America? What are American Ideals? Those definitions are based upon our class readings and discussions. Through exploring these questions, students are provided a variety of perspectives on American Identity.

Nudge Techniques and their application in the COVID-19 Era (Compare and Contrast Between Nations) 

Dr. Amy Eremionkhale, a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange (VE) project with Dr. Jana Sadeh, a Senior Teaching Fellow in the Department of Economics within the School of Economic, Social and Political Sciences

at the University of Southampton in England. This virtual exchange project connects students at the intermediate microeconomics level in both universities. As cross-national teams, the students analyze nudging techniques and their application in economic policy. Specifically, the students in both universities identify and review how the USA and UK governments used nudge techniques to implement their respective COVID-19 restrictions. The groups of students further identify nudging techniques that would work in one country and not the other, along with the rationales. The students' exchange work on the teams involves virtual meetings, culminating in a written project.

Perspective on Comparative Cultures  

Professor Dr. Ruchi Bhatnagar, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Hong Kong Baptist University. This project provides authentic opportunities to cross cultural boundaries and have personal interaction and collaborative experiences with undergraduate education. A major aspect of all readings and discussions is to develop awareness about various issues that impact access to quality of education for all children in the world, environmental factors that create obstacles in upward mobility, and various social structures in different cultures that work to create marginalization of certain communities. GSU students connect with international peers, develop communication skills, appreciate their role as global citizens in an interconnected world, and recognize the need for stronger collaborations beyond borders.

Promoting Cross-cultural Understanding and Children's Rights through Collaborative Work

Associate Professor of Social Studies and Multicultural Education, Dr. Yali Zhao, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Yanling Zhou, Assistant Professor in the Department of Early Childhood Education at the Education University of Hong Kong, China. Students are developing global and cross-cultural understanding of different cultures and education systems to better serve their culturally diverse students. About 100 students in seven groups have reciprocal learning opportunities to meet virtually and share diverse culture and best teaching experiences at the time of the global pandemic. Students read books related to refugee and human rights issues and collaborate on a project that promotes children' rights. Computer-mediated technology and web-based technologies, mainly Flipgrid and Edublogs, are used for sharing video presentations and discussions.

Promotional Design for Atlanta and Beijing

Professor at Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design, Dr. Xinran Hu, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange project with the University of Science and Technology Beijing. Students study the city of Atlanta and Beijing’s history and culture and complete an urban promotion planning report. They design a series of online promotional materials. The system includes a logo, social platform advertisement, video advertisement, and tourism promotion App design.

The Global Forum with Munich Business School

Principal Senior Lecturer of International Business and Co-Director of the Minor in International Business, Dr. Evaristo Fernando Doria, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Munich Business School in Germany. Undergraduate students in the field of international business engage in a cross-border large-scale online discussion forum to address topics that focus on the cultural differences and similarities in a business context. This virtual exchange initiative uses an AI-powered online discussion platform to foster cross-border students’ engagement.

The Indo-US International Business Case Forum with Calcutta Business School

Principal Senior Lecturer of International Business and Co-Director of the Minor in International Business, Dr. Evaristo Fernando Doria, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Calcutta Business School. Undergraduate students in the field of international business engage in a cross-border large-scale online discussion forum to learn and solve international business cases about U.S. companies expanding their businesses into India.

U.S.-Africa Business Opportunities

University Lecturer of the Institute of International Business, Dr. Edward Wang, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange with the ESCA École de Management (ESCA Management School) located in Casablanca, Morocco. Students complete a consultancy project that entails researching, identifying, and analyzing business opportunities in North Africa. The main goal of this project is for students to master the art and science of analyzing business opportunities and identifying risks in emerging and frontier economies, conduct primary and secondary research, and make data-driven recommendations while developing cross-cultural competencies and a global mindset.

US-Portugal Business Opportunities

Clinical Associate Professor of International Business, Dr. Salomao De Farias, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Diana Falcao and Dr. Francisco Coelho, Marketing Manager Course Leader at IPAM, O Porto, Portugal. The project is to offer students the opportunity to work in cross-border virtual teams to complete a ‘Consultancy’ project. Their project will entail researching, identifying, and analyzing business opportunities for a Portuguese company to invest abroad. Students complete the project in two phases as follows: PESTEL analysis and Market Opportunity Analysis. Students master the art and science of analyzing business opportunities and identifying risks in international economies, conduct primary and secondary research, and make data-driven recommendations. In addition, students employ data visualization for exploration and sensemaking. Furthermore, students work in international virtual teams, one of the most effective ways to develop cross-cultural competencies and a global mindset.

Virtual Exchange in Large Introductory Sociology Classes

Professor, Chair of the Sociology Department Dr. Eric Wright, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Hong Kong Baptist University, Department of Sociology to enhance learning sociology, and expand students’ global awareness and improve their intercultural communication skills.

Exploring the Impact of Culture on Mathematics Education

Dr. Pier Angeli Junor Clarke, Clinical Professor of Middle and Secondary Education, and Dr. Corey Williams, Georgia State University, is partnering with the University of Guyana, where a group of students and their faculty will collaborate on a project exploring the impact of culture on mathematics education. Students will use both Flipgrid and ZOOM to explore and share their differences and similarities as premises for the diversity of the cultures in becoming teachers of mathematics.

Business Case Research and Writing

Clinical Professor of International Business, Dr. Mourad Dakhli, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Mediterranean School of Business. This course offers students the opportunity to work in cross-border virtual teams to complete a ‘Consultancy’ project. The project entails proposing, researching and drafting a business case dealing with a real business phenomenon or challenge that is interesting and one that requires insight and thoughtful recommendations. The case can address a firm-specific in a functional area, or an industry-level phenomenon. Students also have the option to focus on a nonprofit organization as long as the topics have international business implications. While the case focuses on the key issues faced, students also include a set of grounded recommendations to address the issues. Students also describe the global, regional, country, and industry, and competitive context as appropriate. A case competition with awards is included in this project. In addition, the top three cases are submitted to an international conference for review, presentation and publication.

Technology & the Global Marketplace: Implications for International Business Practitioners in Africa

Clinical Associate Professor of International Business, Dr. Salomao De Farias, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the ESCA School of Management located in Casablanca, Morocco. Students engage in this Experiential Learning Activity through working in teams with classmates and students from Morrocco to research, identify, and analyze business opportunities for a specific technology in the African Region with deliverables such as a team report and presentation.

Virtual Live Case Learning Experience

Clinical Associate Professor of International Business, Dr. Salomao De Farias, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Francisco Coelho and Dr. Helder Ferreira, Course Leaders at IPAM, O Porto, Portugal. This partnership establishes the experiential learning activity for BUSA4000 Global Business course by means of virtual teams of GSU and IPAM. Students work on an international business consulting project (a virtual live case) for a Portuguese retail company searching for business opportunities in countries around the world. The digital platform, Google pages and WebEx are used to elaborate team reports and facilitate the co-creation between GSU and IPAM students.

The Global Forum

Senior Lecturer of International Business and Co-Director of the Minor in International Business, Dr. Evaristo Fernando Doria, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Munich Business School in Germany. Undergraduate students in the field of international business engage in a cross-border large-scale online discussion forum to address topics that focus on the cultural differences and similarities in a business context. This virtual exchange initiative uses an AI-powered online discussion platform to foster cross-border students’ engagement.Click Here

Good Business

Senior Lecturer of International Business and Co-Director of the Minor in International Business, Dr. Evaristo Fernando Doria, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering from the University of Toronto in Canada. A cross-border (Canada and U.S), cross-functional (engineering students and international business students), large-scale (more than 100 students) learning experience. The participating students work in teams to create global business projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations. Promotional Video | Click Here

SMEs Go Global

Senior Lecturer of International Business and Co-Director of the Minor in International Business, Dr. Evaristo Fernando Doria, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Ulster University Business School in the U.K. and the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship at College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University in Minnesota, USA. During this VE project, the students will work in teams to help small and medium-sized companies from the U.S. understand the business opportunities for them in Europe and vice versa.

Changes in Teaching and Learning as a Result of the Pandemic

Senior Lecturer of Global Studies Institute, Dr. Laura Hastings is partnering with Dr. Dang Thi Kim Phung, Department of Sociology, Ton Duc Thang University. Students from Georgia State and Ton Duc Thang Universities meet virtually to present video presentations exploring how teaching and learning practices are changing as a result of Covid-19 pandemic. Students usually carry out interviews and reflect on institutions, offering comparisons between practices in Atlanta and Ho Chi Minh City.

Exploring Culture and Career Development Through Virtual Exchange

Assistant Professor of School Counseling, Dr. Erin Mason, is partnering with Dr. Qiong Li in the School of Psychology at Sichuan Normal University (SNU). Through this virtual exchange, students experience the power of collaboration and problem-solving from a global perspective and use Flipgrid to participate in a cross-cultural virtual exchange to discuss career development for school-students.

Implementation of Precalculus Projects Involving Concepts Across the Globe Through Virtual Exchange

Mrs. Sutandra Sarkar, a Senior Academic Professional of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Oduduwa University of Nigeria. Students utilize WebEx Teams space as well as Discord or Slack to discuss mathematical applications in contemporary world topics, such as the Suez Canal or the Corona Virus pandemic. Students from different parts of the globe collaborate, explore, and connect concepts with current world events to observe the relevance of learning skills and tools for introductory mathematics programs. Students also explore how their respective cultural and political background might impact implementing theoretical ideas.

U.S.-Africa Business Opportunities

University Lecturer of the Institute of International Business, Dr. Edward Wang, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange with the ESCA École de Management (ESCA Management School) located in Casablanca, Morocco. Students will be completing a consultancy project that will entail researching, identifying, and analyzing business opportunities in North Africa. The main goal of this project is for students to master the art and science of analyzing business opportunities and identifying risks in emerging and frontier economies, conduct primary and secondary research, and make data-driven recommendations while developing cross-cultural competencies and a global mindset.

Product Management

Clinical Instructor of Marketing, Ken White, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Connie Li, Professor at Hong Kong Baptist University. Students will work together on two projects: (1) the development of a New Product Concept and Marketing Plan, and (2) the creation of a Socially Responsible Consumption Interactive Exhibition. The Virtual Exchange Project goals are to facilitate intercultural collaboration and cultivate a broader understanding of marketing across cultures.

Being a Responsible Pet Owner: Prevention of Dogs as Vectors of Disease

Clinical Assistant Professor of Curriculum & Instruction (Science Education), Dr. David Wojnowski,  is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Daphne Jhoanna Leon Cordova, Veterinarian at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia Department. Students will meet via Zoom to collaborate and share information between a Public Health/Epidemiology course at Cayetano Heredia University in Peru and a Content-based Curricula, Instruction and Assessment for Dual Immersion Classrooms course at GSU-College of Education & Human Development. The topic: Educational outreach curriculum to reduce the spread of disease in relation to dogs as vectors: Being a Responsible Pet Owner to facilitate multidisciplinary intercultural collaboration.

Learning About Different Cultures and Education Through Virtual Exchange Communities

Associate Professor of Social Studies and Multicultural Education, Dr. Yali Zhao, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Xiang Liu, Associate Professor in the College of Education Science at the Sichuan Normal University in China. Students in the course develop cross-cultural understanding of diverse cultures and education systems. Students have reciprocal learning opportunities to share views pertaining to various educational issues at the time of global Pandemic with international education students. Computer-mediated technology and web-based technologies, including iCollege and Flipgrid are used for sharing video presentations and discussions.

An Exploration of GAAP vs. IFRS

Assistant Professor of Accounting, Dr. Floran Syler-Woods, CPA,is leading a Virtual Exchange Project with accounting students and faculty from GSU Perimeter and University of Cape Town South Africa. Students participate in virtual lectures where they learn about Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) vs. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Students then have to obtain the financial statements of U.S. and international companies to compare and contrast the two sets of accounting standards, even forming competitive teams comprised of students from both universities.

Business Case Research and Writing

Clinical Professor of International Business, Dr. Mourad Dakhli, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Mediterranean School of Business. This course offers students the opportunity to work in cross-border virtual teams to complete a ‘Consultancy’ project. The project entails proposing, researching and drafting a business case dealing with a real business phenomenon or challenge that is interesting and one that requires insight and thoughtful recommendations. The case describes a firm-specific issue (international business, managerial, marketing, technology, human resources, and/or related areas). Students may also focus on a selected industry or on an institution (private/public, profit/ nonprofit). The key is that topics have international business implications. While the case focuses on the key issues faced, students also include a set of grounded recommendations to address the issues. Students also describe the global, regional, country, and industry, and competitive context as appropriate.

Cultivating Global Competency for Counselors-in-Training

Assistant Professor of Counseling and Psychological Services, Dr. Han Na Suh, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Yang Eunjoo, Professor in the Counseling Psychology program at Korea University. Students utilize Flip Grid to engage in in-depth discussions and have the opportunity to learn and discuss various multicultural issues from a cross-cultural perspective. Additionally, students are offered a safe space for self-reflection to increase awareness regarding the issues that arise when providing counseling to clients with diverse backgrounds.

Cultural Influences on Identity and Educational Experiences in the U.S. and China

Associate Professor of World Languages Education, Dr. Paula Garrett-Rucks, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Christopher Brighton, Assistant Professor in Educational Management at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in Suzhou, China. GSU students have reciprocal learning opportunities with Chinese students to explore cultural influences on their identity formation and educational experiences using Flipgrid, Zoom, and WeChat. Small mixed groups of students create culminating projects to compare similarities and differences of experiences and worldviews within and across cultures.

Enhancing Global Learning in Large Introductory Biology Classes

Senior Lecturer of Biology, Dr. Hongmei Zhang, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Jian Wu, Professor at Southwest Jiaotong University. Students utilize Zoom and VoiceThread to construct concept maps based upon course content to facilitate intercultural collaboration and communication in the field of Biology.

Enhancing Student’s intercultural Competence and Promoting International Collaboration via Virtual Exchange Project

Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology, Dr. Eric Wright, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Professor of Sociology, Dr. Day K. M. Wong, at Hong Kong Baptist University. Students utilize technology to foster a comparative dialogue on the US and China as well as cultivate a broader global understanding of core sociological topics through a variety of activities.

Impact of Current Efforts to Solve Global Grand Challenges for Engineering

Assistant Department Chair and Assistant Professor Dr. Sahithya Reddivari, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange project with Batangas State University (Batangas, Philippines) to explore the four themes related to NAE’s vision for engineering in the 21st century. In 2008 the National Academy of Engineers gathered an international group of leading technological thinkers to identify the Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st century. This group identified 14 game-changing goals for improving life on the planet that fall into four cross-cutting themes: SUSTAINABILITY, HEALTH, SECURITY, and JOY OF LIVING. Students select the one that interests the team most to explore further in this project. Student teams then find two specific examples of current work being done to help address challenges related to the theme of interest, learn more about the details about the solution, analyze the potential societal impact of the technologies when they are implemented, and present their findings to the class.

Implementation of Precalculus Projects Involving Concepts Across the Globe Through Virtual Exchange

Mrs. Sutandra Sarkar, a Senior Academic Professional of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Oduduwa University of Nigeria. Students utilize WebEx Teams space as well as Discord or Slack to discuss mathematical applications in contemporary world topics, such as the Suez Canal or the Corona Virus pandemic. Students from different parts of the globe collaborate, explore, and connect concepts with current world events to observe the relevance of learning skills and tools for introductory mathematics programs. Students also explore how their respective cultural and political background might impact implementing theoretical ideas.

International Peacebuilding

Professor of Political Science Dr. Carrie Manning and Senior Lecturer of Political Science, Dr. Laura Hastings, are partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Institute d’Études Politiques (Sciences Po’) at the University of Strasbourg. Students engage in close and critical examination of liberal peacebuilding, the dominant approach to internationally-led conflict resolution in the post-Cold War era. Students also work as part of an international team to examine key elements of peacebuilding and to examine a single case in depth. Microsoft Teams is the primary platform used to facilitate this project.

Learning About Different Cultures and Education Through Virtual Exchange Communities

Associate Professor of Social Studies and Multicultural Education, Dr. Yali Zhao, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Yanling Zhou, Assistant Professor in the Department of Early Childhood Education at the Education University of Hong Kong, China. Students are developing global and cross-cultural understanding of different cultures and education systems to better serve their culturally diverse students. Over 100 Students in seven groups have reciprocal learning opportunities to meet virtually and share diverse culture and best teaching experiences at the time of the global Pandemic. Computer-mediated technology and web-based technologies, mainly Flipgrid, is used for sharing video presentations and discussions.

Managing and Preventing Pandemics with Data Analytics

Clinical Associate Professor of Management, Dr. Frank Lee, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Sunny Jeong, Associate Professor of Science and Technology at Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC). In this VE project, students use technology to discuss and propose how to manage and prevent pandemics with data analytics.

Multiethnic American Identity

Associate Professor of English, Dr. Michelle Kassorla, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Head of the English Department of Al-Qasemi College of Education in Baqa al-Gharbiyye in the Haifa District in Israel, Dr. Wisam Chaleila. Students utilize Canvas in addition to Google Drive, YouTube, and Zotero to explore American identity through contemporary Multiethnic American Literature. As a final project, teams of students from Israel and America are working on a definition of what an American is: Who is an American? What does an American look like? What is the culture of America? What are American Ideals? Those definitions are based upon our class readings and discussions. Through exploring these questions, students are provided a variety of perspectives on American Identity.

The Global Forum / Good Business

Senior Lecturer of International Business and Co-Director of the Minor in International Business, Dr. Evaristo Fernando Doria, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Conestoga College School of Business in Canada and Munich Business School in Germany. Undergraduate students in the field of international business engage in a cross-border large-scale online discussion forum to address topics that focus on the cultural differences and similarities in a business context. This virtual exchange initiative uses an AI-powered online discussion platform to foster cross-border students’ engagement.

Senior Lecturer of International Business and Co-Director of the Minor in International Business, Dr. Evaristo Fernando Doria, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering from the University of Toronto in Canada. A cross-border (Canada and U.S), cross-functional (engineering students and international business students), large-scale ( more than 100 students ) learning experience. The participating students work in teams to create global business projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations.

Understanding the Global Impact of COVID-19 on children and families

Clinical Assistant Professor of School Counseling, Dr. Natalie Grubbs, is partnering with Dr. Huachun Xu in the School of Psychology at Sichuan Normal University (SNU). Through this virtual exchange, students experience the power of collaboration and problem-solving from a global perspective and use Flipgrid to participate in a cross-cultural virtual exchange to discuss the global impact of COVID-19 on individuals across the lifespan.

Virtual Live Case Learning Experience

Clinical Associate Professor of International Business, Dr. Salomao De Farias, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Francisco Coelho, Marketing Manager Course Leader at IPAM, O Porto, Portugal. This partnership establishes the experiential learning activity for BUSA4000 Global Business course by means of virtual teams of GSU and IPAM. Students work on an international business consulting project (a virtual live case) for a Portuguese apparel companysearching for business opportunities in countries in Europe and in the U.S. The digital platform, Google pages and WebEx are used to elaborate team reports and facilitate the co-creation between GSU and IPAM students.

Women and Progress: A Comparative Study of the United States and India

Professor of History and Associate Chair, Business and Cultural & Behavioral Science, Newton Campus, Dr. Salli Vargis, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange with Dr. Dolly Thomas, Chair, Department of History, Stella Maris College (SMC), Chennai, India. Students from SMC join Perimeter College students through WebEx to examine topics related to women in the United States and India. They are provided rubrics for writing a history project report in a variety of different formats such as a newspaper editorial, a skit, or a regular research paper comparing women in the U. S. and India.

Cities of the Past, Today, and Tomorrow

Assistant Professor of Urban Studies, Dr. Fei Li,  is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Cristina Lauri and Prof. Daniela de Leo, Faculty at Sapienza University of Rome in Italy. Students explore shared challenges and innovated approaches in cities around the globe, such as inclusive development, urban renewal, resilience, sustainability, climate change, and technologies. Students use video-conferencing and social media to interact synchronously and asynchronously and work in groups for classroom debates on controversial topics in urban development and policy.

World Foods: Connecting Students in India and in the U.S.

Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition, and member of the Global Research on Non-Communicable Disease (GRAND) Initiative, Dr. Nida Shaikh, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Jagmeet Madan, Principle and Professor of Sir Vithaldas Thackersey (SVT) College of Home Science, SNDT Women’s University in India. The project provides students with a window into the world of food and culture. Students engage in asynchronous group activities in iCollege to compare and reflect on their favorite foods and their origins, the food in their refrigerators, and collaborate on a group presentation about a festive cultural meal of their choice (e.g. a Polish Christmas Eve dinner).

Cultural Perspectives on Climate Change

Senior Lecturer of Geosciences, Dr. Ricardo Nogueira, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Sam Lau, Principal Lecturer at Hong Kong Baptist University in Hong Kong, and Dr. Min Hu, Professor at Northwest University in Xi’an, China. Students utilize TopHat and TopHat Slate technology to discuss environmental pollution and explore the impact of climate change from their respective culture. The causes and consequences of climate change along with the effects of climate change on daily living and lifestyles are addressed.

Cross-Cultural Discussions on Democratic Erosion in the U.S. and Globally

Professor of Political Science, Dr. Jennifer McCoy,  is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Central European University (Professor Levente Littvay) in Hungary and University of Philippines (Professor Aries Arugay) in a course on Polarization and Democratic Erosion Around the World. Along with two U.S. universities teaching the same syllabus, the students engage in 2-3 guided discussions over the semester using What’s App in small groups of 5-6 students to discuss a theme of the course or current events in a country. This semester students discuss U.S. democracy, and the role of social media and disinformation in democratic erosion. Following the five days of What’s App discussion exchanging views, each student writes a one-page reflection paper. In addition, students give peer review on their draft blog assignments which are then posted on the cross-university consortium website, democratic-erosion.com.

Learning About Different Cultures and Education Through Virtual Exchange Communities

Associate Professor of Social Studies and Multicultural Education, Dr. Yali Zhao, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Xiang Liu, Associate Professor in the College of Education Science at the Sichuan Normal University in China. Students in the course develop cross-cultural understanding of different cultures and education systems. Students have reciprocal learning opportunities to share views pertaining to various educational issues at the time of global Pandemic with international education students. Computer-mediated technology and web-based technologies, including iCollege and Flipgrid are used for sharing video presentations and discussions.

Approaches of the European Union (Italy) and United States to Urban Environmental Challenges 

Associate Professor of Law, Dr. John Marshall, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Eliza Scotti, Associate Professor at Marcerata University in Italy. Students communicate via Webex to compare how the E.U. (Italy) and U.S. approach the four urban environmental challenges of Air, Water, Brownfields, and Environmental Justice.

The Global Forum

Senior Lecturer of International Business, Dr. Evaristo Fernando Doria, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Conestoga College School of Business in Canada and Munich Business School in Germany. Undergraduate students in the field of international business engage in a cross border large scale online discussion forum to address topics that focus on the cultural differences and similarities in a business context. This virtual exchange initiative uses an AI powered online discussion platform to foster cross-border students’ engagement.

GSU-UP: BQ Rohrsysteme GmbH International Consulting Project

Clinical Professor of International Business, Dr. Mourad Dakhli, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Johan Vogel, Senior Lecturer at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. This partnership establishes virtual teams of GSU and UP students that collaborate on an international business consulting project for a German industrial firm actively seeking to establish presence in Africa and the Middle East. The digital platform, Telanto, is used to facilitate and assess the university-industry collaboration.

Cross-Cultural Conversations

Assistant Professor of English, Jessie Hayden, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Emma Zhang, a Lecturer of English in the College of International Education at Hong Kong Baptist University. Students from GSU and Hong Kong Baptist University engage in cross-cultural discussion groups to discuss key topics related to social justice and creative expression. Students utilize two forms of technology, Flipgrid and Zoom.

Exploring Cultural Impact on Student Life and Humanities

Assistant Professor in Arts and Humanities, Communications, Colleen Ijuin, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Anna Chatthong and Tom Freimuth, Faculty in International Relations at Prince of Songkla University in Thailand. GSU and PSU students exchange ideas about student life and humanities through VoiceThread.

Language in Society

Instructor Taylor Chlapowski (Ph.D. student in Applied Linguistics and supervised by GSU’s Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, Dr. Eric Friginal), is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the University of Baghdad (UB), Baghdad, Iraq. Students in their classes will learn an overview of Sociolinguistics. Specifically, they will cover the study of variation in language form and use associated with social, situational, temporal, and geographic influences. The course focuses on numerous sociolinguistic issues in the United States and globally. Students will have bi-weekly online discussions on course readings and a choice between two final projects; the linguistic landscape project (students photograph publicly written language used in two different areas highlighting differences in language use) or the sociolinguistic interview project (students analyze how language differences in two areas represent regional demographics).

Interaction between UWC and GSU students: Unimportance and Disgrace

Associate Professor of Literature, Renee Schatteman, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with University of Western Cape to discuss unimportance and disgrace. Students will interact with students at the University of Western Cape in responding to a novel by Thando Mqgalazana. Specifically, they will share responses to the novel and the South African students will answer questions about the novel. In addition, I (along with three of my students) will join a class that Dr. Wittenberg held with his students in their initial discussion of the novel, and I will share their impressions with my classes. Dr. Wittenberg will join my class and deliver a lecture about the photography of J.C. Coetzee which will connect to the reading of Coetzee’s novel Disgrace.

Virtual Exchange Project 2020

Senior Lecturer of Geosciences, Dr. Ricardo Nogueira, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange project with Hong Kong Baptist University, Nothwest Universtiy, and University of Strasbourg to discuss the issue of pollution. Students from 3 universities will discuss impacts of pollution affecting Atlanta, Hong Kong and Xian, China.

Peacebuilding as State building: An international virtual exchange for graduate students

Professor of Political Science Dr. Carrie Manning, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the University of Strasbourg to explore the importance of peacebuilding as state building.

Virtual Exchange in Turkey

Professor of Political Science, Dr. Jennifer McCoy, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Koc University to discuss democracy from the perspective of two different countries Carry out three sessions of small group WhatsApp chats on topics related to the course: U.S. election integrity; U.S. democratic erosion; Turkish democratic erosion.

Impact of Covid-19 on Ho Chi Minh City and Atlanta: A Comparative Analysis

Senior Lecturer of Political Science, Dr. Laura Hasitngs, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Ton Duc Thang University to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on Ho Chi Minh City and Atlanta. 15 groups of 4-6 students were given the project name and were given free rein to come up with a final project of their choice.

Cross-Cultural Virtual Discussion

Assistant Professor of English and English as a Second Language, Dr. Jessie Hayden, is partnerin on a Virtual Exchange Project with Hong Kong Baptist University. Students from GSU and Hong Kong Baptist University engage in cross-cultural discussion group to discuss key topics related to social justice and creative expression.

Language in Society

Instructor Taylor Chlapowski (Ph.D. student in Applied Linguistics and supervised by GSU’s Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, Dr. Eric Friginal), is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the University of Baghdad (UB), Baghdad, Iraq. Students in their classes will learn an overview of Sociolinguistics. Specifically, they will cover the study of variation in language form and use associated with social, situational, temporal, and geographic influences. The course focuses on numerous sociolinguistic issues in the United States and globally. Students will have bi-weekly online discussions on course readings and a choice between two final projects; the linguistic landscape project (students photograph publicly written language used in two different areas highlighting differences in language use) or the sociolinguistic interview project (students analyze how language differences in two areas represent regional demographics).

Interaction between UWC and GSU students: Unimportance and Disgrace

Associate Professor of Literature, Renee Schatteman, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with University of Western Cape to discuss unimportance and disgrace. Students will interact with students at the University of Western Cape in responding to a novel by Thando Mqgalazana. Specifically, they will share responses to the novel and the South African students will answer questions about the novel. In addition, I (along with three of my students) will join a class that Dr. Wittenberg held with his students in their initial discussion of the novel, and I will share their impressions with my classes. Dr. Wittenberg will join my class and deliver a lecture about the photography of J.C. Coetzee which will connect to the reading of Coetzee’s novel Disgrace.

Virtual Exchange Project 2020

Senior Lecturer of Geosciences, Dr. Ricardo Nogueira, is patnering ona Virtual Exchange project with Hong Kong Baptist University, Nothwest Universtiy, and University of Strasbourg to discuss the issue of pollution. Students from 3 universities will discuss impacts of pollution affecting Atlanta, Hong Kong and Xian, China.

Peacebuilding as State building: An international virtual exchange for graduate students

Professor of Political Science Dr. Carrie Manning, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with the University of Strasbourg to explore the importance of peacebuilding as state building.

Virtual Exchange in Turkey

Professor of Political Science, Dr. Jennifer McCoy, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Koc University to discuss democracy from the perspective of two different countries Carry out three sessions of small group WhatsApp chats on topics related to the course: U.S. election integrity; U.S. democratic erosion; Turkish democratic erosion.

Impact of Covid-19 on Ho Chi Minh City and Atlanta: A Comparative Analysis

Senior Lecturer of Political Science, Dr. Laura Hasitngs, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Ton Duc Thang University to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on Ho Chi Minh City and Atlanta. 15 groups of 4-6 students were given the project name and were given free rein to come up with a final project of their choice.

Cross-Cultural Virtual Discussion

Assistant Professor of English and English as a Second Language, Dr. Jessie Hayden, is partnerin on a Virtual Exchange Project with Hong Kong Baptist University. Students from GSU and Hong Kong Baptist University engage in cross-cultural discussion group to discuss key topics related to social justice and creative expression.

Castle Talks on Cross-Border Cooperation: The migration crisis, A Challenge for Border Regions

Senior Lecturer of Political Science, Dr. Laura Ann Hasitngs, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with University of Strasbourg to discuss crises in migration and challenges faced by Border Regions.

Enhancing Cross-cultural Understanding of Social Science Education through Collaborative Online International Learning Communities

Associate Professor of Social Studies and Multicultural Education, Dr. Yali Zhao, is partnering on Virtual Exchange Projects with international universities in China, Singapore and South Korea. Students in their classes will develop cross-cultural understanding of different educational systems and practices. Additionally, students will have reciprocal learning opportunities to share views pertaining to 21^st century competency skills for social studies teachers. Computer-mediated technology and web-based technologies, including iCollege, WeChat, and Zoom will be used for discussions.

Global Sociology of Food

Senior Lecturer & Director of Undergraduate Studies in Sociology, Dr. Jung Ha Kim, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with Dr. Saoti Yasumoto, Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Human Science at Osaka University. They will utilize WebX, Google Doc, and Skype to facilitate asynchronous and synchronous groups of students from the US and Japan. These students will meet online for bi-weekly peer reviews, sharing, and discussions on topics such as the cultural meanings of food production, preparation, and consumption; stereotypes of “American” and “Japanese” food; food waste and controversies; and global food movements.

Kinesiology and Health

Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Health, Courtney Strosnider, is partnering on a Virtual Exchange Project with North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa. Students will learn about the transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM) and share with each other how they have personally applied this model to their own lives. Students will also have the opportunity to discuss barriers to health and treatment in regard to their own personal beliefs, allowing them to recognize these barriers for their own patients. The Virtual Exchange activities will be facilitated using iCollege and video conferencing.