COVID-19 impact on education and student exchange programs
The Covid-19 pandemic still leaves a huge impact on universities across the globe. It is difficult to analyze the possibilities and the full spectrum of consequences on higher education because some countries are having traveling restrictions. Thus, it left us with a state of having confusion over exchange grants, and universities or youth organizations need to adopt a new approach to help students gain international experiences and perspectives.
As a quick response, a collaboration between organizations in different countries can help to overcome the challenges or to change strategies within an organization. This is something that we did as an organization, putting one of our programs called Global Volunteer to dormant status for 2021, and we started to focus more on our Global Talent (internship) program.
But still why opt for a student exchange program?
First, it gives students insight into foreign languages and cultures, and second, it provides exposure to an alternative and innovative way of learning in a challenging environment. Therefore for us, it is essential to provide life-changing experiences for the students even in the hardest of times.
The program is important as it grooms students and helps in their personal as well as professional development. Further, it nurtures new skills and enhances their personality required to stay relevant in the global competitive market. In addition, students develop a lifelong bond with their peers hailing from different countries. This, in turn, makes them real change masters who can influence corporate and policy-makers at the national and international levels.
Understanding the importance of a student exchange program, it is necessary that universities adopt and encourage virtual cultural exchange programs. This way, students from various international universities will be able to connect digitally, share their knowledge, and learn from the experiences of others.
Discussions should be encouraged between the students of home and foreign partner universities to discover newer perspectives. These discussions can be centered on common interests like books, music, dance, food, travel, and sports, etc.
Students who have already spent a semester in foreign institutions can share their experiences. This will be an enriching discussion as it brings both diversity and international perspectives.
A handful of opportunities
Virtual cultural exchange programs, despite the limitations, as they cannot replace in-person interactions, have their set of advantages too. They can be easily accessed by all students from anywhere. Even those who may not have had the opportunity to experience a physical exchange program due to financial or other constraints can opt for it. All they need is access to the internet.
All in all, these virtual classes provide participants insights into new cultures and opportunities to learn new skills such as digital competence, communication skills, and the ability to work in diverse cultural environments. These skills are gaining traction in today’s world because of a significant shift to work-from-home practices due to the pandemic.
A new way forward
Thus, new challenges require new and innovative solutions. Even though the pandemic has had an enormous impact on our student exchange programs, it is important to be flexible and adapt to the changes. A virtual exchange experience can help in providing a similar experience to the students through new methods and initiatives.
It will initiate intercultural dialogue and exchange using digital technology. And to make it effective, students’ support as well participation is imperative.
When students from across the world come together, they get a perfect platform to share unique experiences and deep insights. Virtual cultural exchange programs are one such platform that enables cross-cultural communication and collaboration and develops new skills without any boundary constraints.
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