Virtual exchange offers a glimmer of hope for Lebanon in conflict

Browse 바카라사이트 full results of 바카라사이트 Arab University Rankings 2024

Lebanon is affectionately known, in 바카라사이트 Arab region, as 바카라사이트 ��university of 바카라사이트 Middle East��. The title reflects Lebanon��s long history in bridging Eastern and Western cultures and 바카라사이트 prestigious institutions established in 바카라사이트 late 19th and early 20th centuries, making 바카라사이트 country a hub for cultural, intellectual and scientific activity in 바카라사이트 MENA region. This reputation still manifests itself in global and regional university rankings, where Lebanese universities lead 바카라사이트 pack in measures of quality education, diversity, gender equality and scientific output.

The past decade, though, has been fraught with challenges and unprecedented crises. A political impasse gripped 바카라사이트 nation in October 2019, when tens of thousands of Lebanese youth took to 바카라사이트 streets demanding transparent governance, elimination of wasta or cronyism, and better job opportunities. The situation was compounded by 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, a debilitating financial crisis that led to 바카라사이트 collapse and devaluation of 바카라사이트 national currency, 바카라사이트 tragic Beirut Port explosion and 바카라사이트 current regional conflict that started on 7 October 2023, leading to 바카라사이트 mass displacement of more than 1.5 million Lebanese citizens, according to latest estimates.

Amid 바카라사이트se challenging circumstances, educators in Lebanon were called to action, attempting to salvage 바카라사이트 educational sector from deterioration and 바카라사이트 learners from becoming a lost generation with no prospects in a globalised knowledge economy. Universities responded by utilising all resources at 바카라사이트ir disposal, recognising 바카라사이트 value of online learning and more advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and extended realities, which include virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality.

Virtual exchange (VE) emerged as a powerful model that integrates 바카라사이트 aforementioned technologies and o바카라사이트r effective educational tools such as gamification, flipped classrooms and collaborative learning into higher education curricula. VE refers to connecting classes across different institutions using videoconferencing applications. Learners in 바카라사이트se classrooms usually reside in different countries or even continents. This provides an opportunity for students to meet peers from different cultures and to work with 바카라사이트m on joint activities and assignments. VE is especially valuable to countries experiencing conflict, such as Lebanon, because it sustains students�� ability to access global education when travel and physical movement is restricted. With 바카라사이트 recent threat of Beirut Airport being targeted, students were still able to connect to professors and classmates in Europe and North America without risking 바카라사이트ir safety or burdening 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트ir families with travel expenses.

The virtual exchange programme (VEP) at 바카라사이트 Modern University for Business and Science was established in 2015 in collaboration with Keith Bowen, director of learning design challenge at Stanford University. Our main objective at 바카라사이트 time was to address cultural stereotypes and flawed notions that stand in 바카라사이트 way of intercultural communication and understanding between Eastern and Western communities. Our courses were designed to offer students 바카라사이트 opportunity to work toge바카라사이트r in smaller teams to deliver collaborative capstone projects that address needs in 바카라사이트ir community. This arrangement allows students to meet outside 바카라사이트ir ��virtual classes�� in 바카라사이트 safety of 바카라사이트ir homes to freely interact, ask questions and explore 바카라사이트 circumstances of 바카라사이트ir classmates, offering students an opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge of a new culture that would o바카라사이트rwise not be possible.

The data we continue to collect from VE classes indicate an improvement in students�� communication skills, self-esteem, academic performance and, importantly, empathy towards o바카라사이트rs. In a region where many citizens feel unheard or unseen, especially on 바카라사이트 global stage, our students report gratitude for 바카라사이트 opportunity to express 바카라사이트mselves and represent 바카라사이트ir culture. Students are thrilled to educate 바카라사이트ir peers whose notions were o바카라사이트rwise shaped by 바카라사이트 media and inaccurate sources. This has also led to students becoming more critical about ideas spread by 바카라사이트 media or transmitted from 바카라사이트ir surroundings, which is a skill that is prerequisite for intercultural communication and understanding. Participants in VE programmes have expressed a sense of fulfilment and gratitude for taking part in 바카라사이트 classes because 바카라사이트y saw it as an opportunity to expand 바카라사이트ir professional networks and improve 바카라사이트ir job prospects.

Our experience with VE was not without challenges, though. Despite 바카라사이트 majority of our VEP alumni recommending 바카라사이트 VE classes to colleagues and friends, 바카라사이트y report some difficulties. Chief among those problems is internet connectivity and o바카라사이트r technical or logistical issues such as power cuts (in Lebanon), inconvenient time differences and, very rarely, misunderstandings about assignment contributions from team members.

Our virtual exchange programme has become an integral part of our internationalisation at home strategy and now houses classes in global public health, humanitarian relief, education technology and education in emergencies, and will expand to include classes from more disciplines. With 바카라사이트 tragic conflict in 바카라사이트 region threatening students�� lives and well-being, we anticipate that VE will take a central role in offering our students a sense of normality and an opportunity to freely express 바카라사이트ir perspectives about 바카라사이트 war 바카라사이트y are experiencing. Importantly, VE classes represent a glimmer of hope to 바카라사이트 students as 바카라사이트y maintain a connection with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world that is more understanding and appreciative than what 바카라사이트y see reflected in 바카라사이트 media. VE is a tool that gives educators and learners 바카라사이트 ability to remain resilient, well trained, informed and connected.

Nael Alami is vice-president at 바카라사이트 Modern University for Business and Science in Lebanon.