Virtual Internationalizationthrough online intercultural exchange

Steven L. Thorne & Vivek Shandas+ colleagues at PSU and around the world

Virtual internationalization?

Virtual internationalization throughonline intercultural exchange (OIC)

• Interaction/collaboration with international internet-mediated partners as part of routine coursework

• Any/all subjects and disciplines• Cost efficient form of intercultural engagement• All PSU students can (should) participate– No barriers of time, physical travel, expense– Makes visible the disciplinary and linguistic abilities necessary

for intercultural collaboration• Intercultural communicative competence IS

INTERNATIONALIZATION -- central to success in a mobile and globalizing world

Benefits of Virtual Internationalization

For Students: Direct international experience, intercultural awareness, disciplinary knowledge, foreign languages

For Students: Direct international experience, intercultural awareness, disciplinary knowledge, foreign languages

For Universities: ‘Low cost’ internationalization strategy / Opening up or strengthening intl. university partnerships

For Universities: ‘Low cost’ internationalization strategy / Opening up or strengthening intl. university partnerships

Pre-study abroad: Preparation for physical mobility/ Alternative to physical mobility

Pre-study abroad: Preparation for physical mobility/ Alternative to physical mobility

For University Educators: Opening up of classroom / Authentic communication and project work / Developing

international networks of collaborators

For University Educators: Opening up of classroom / Authentic communication and project work / Developing

international networks of collaborators

UNICollaboration Project, 2011-2014

• Financed By The European Commission - Lifelong Learning Programme (€ 340,000)

• 8 European partners universities (Heidelberg, Grenoble III, Padova, Czestochowa, Groningen, UA Barcelona, Open University UK)

Why do it?• Virtual internationalization & OIE work!• PSU has a long-standing commitment to

internationalization• Contemporary research networks, professional

and commercial activity, already demonstrably international in scope

• Ecological validity of VI/OIE to post-Uni life– Engineers and scientists– Academic researchers– Business and commerce – Professions and trades