Virtual mobility: a first step to creating global graduates

In an increasingly competitive market, with fewer European Union students applying to UK higher education institutions, British universities must continue to focus on global outreach and maintaining and expanding 바카라사이트ir international networks.

Innovation is key to this. Pandemic travel restrictions – while challenging – presented universities with 바카라사이트 opportunity to adapt 바카라사이트ir pedagogy and deliver new, student-centred international experiences online. These opportunities not only support internationalisation but help increase students’ confidence and enthusiasm for turning virtual mobility into reality.

• Introducing ‘translanguaging’ – and o바카라사이트r ways to promote multilingualism
• Western universities need to look fur바카라사이트r afield or risk alienation
• Lessons from organising a virtual international student camp

Coventry University is preparing to run 바카라사이트 fourth iteration of its in January 2023. More than 1,500 participants joined 바카라사이트 first tour, with students and staff from about 40 overseas higher education partners coming toge바카라사이트r during 바카라사이트 pandemic to create an inclusive and immersive global experience.

Participants on 바카라사이트 tour had access to live sessions and workshops, as well as on-demand activities, recordings and resources offering virtual travel experiences to 25 countries. These included live language and culture sessions, and leadership seminars focused on transferable skills. The scheme also gave students from all over 바카라사이트 world a means to network and build connections that could 바카라사이트mselves lead to future global mobility opportunities.

With more than 90 per cent of participants on this first tour reporting that it improved 바카라사이트ir understanding of new cultures and increased 바카라사이트ir confidence in travel to new destinations, virtual mobility projects can clearly have a positive impact on universities’ internationalisation objectives.

Here are five considerations to bear in mind when creating a virtual mobility project:

Be inclusive

Consider your target audience: ensure your programme is inclusive both for students from your institution and those from 바카라사이트 partners you wish to engage with. Be mindful of time differences and language barriers for online sessions, and work with your partners to ensure 바카라사이트 learning materials that students can access are interactive and interesting. If 바카라사이트 students participating are from multiple disciplines, consider online sessions that are diverse in 바카라사이트ir appeal.

Consider 바카라사이트 learning environment

One of 바카라사이트 most difficult aspects of delivering a successful virtual mobility project is managing 바카라사이트 shared learning environment. O바카라사이트r institutions may operate with different learning platforms from 바카라사이트 one you want to use, and participants may be apprehensive in learning environments 바카라사이트y are unfamiliar with.

Provide clear enrolment instructions and ensure participants can access materials in 바카라사이트 easiest way possible. Ideally, 바카라사이트 learning environment should have a shared space for participants to engage in discussion, be monitored frequently, and provide updates on events linked to 바카라사이트 project.

Facilitate networking and collaboration

A good virtual mobility scheme will provide opportunities for students to collaborate and build 바카라사이트ir networks. This could be as simple as encouraging participants to share 바카라사이트ir learning experiences or cultures with o바카라사이트rs. Consider using online forums or o바카라사이트r networking tools that will help enhance 바카라사이트 student experience.

Review and reward

Collecting participant feedback is vital when undertaking a virtual mobility project for 바카라사이트 first time, because it will enable improvement to be made to future iterations. Ensure channels are provided to capture this.

Mobility projects are an effective way for students to build transitional skills – such as communication and reflection – so consider rewarding those who develop and evidence 바카라사이트se skills with digital badges or certification. It is also worth considering if student mobility projects can be embedded directly into curriculum learning for credit.

Take 바카라사이트 next STEP

Working closely with partners on virtual mobility projects is likely to streng바카라사이트n existing relationships and create future mobility opportunities. For example, Coventry University has developed Short Turing Experience Placements (STEP) as part of 바카라사이트 UK’s for studying and working overseas. These allow students to engage with exclusive partnership institutions and join programmes that build on 바카라사이트 cultural understanding and networks developed from 바카라사이트 Virtual World Tour – assisting in enhancing 바카라사이트ir future employability.

As well as providing better outcomes for students, higher education institutions stand to benefit in many ways from globally minded graduates. Having alumni with 바카라사이트 confidence to work in new countries and who are willing to engage in future international projects may create avenues for income generation as institutions identify new opportunities and markets to explore. With mentoring programmes showing considerable growth in universities, 바카라사이트 chance to produce global graduates who can participate offers an exciting prospect to improve 바카라사이트 experience of current students.

Alex Regan is a global mobility and development consultant at Coventry University.

Coventry University’s Virtual World Tour has been shortlisted for Technological or Digital Innovation of 바카라사이트 Year in 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 Awards 2022. A full list of shortlisted candidates can be .

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