Challenge Question
How can international students and students on exchange better integrate into the academic and work ecology of their host country?
Partner: Globally Networked Learning
Project Summary
Globally Networked Learning at York International would like to create a digital “pen pal” system in order to virtually integrate students into new learning environments—both York students studying abroad who are entering academic and working ecologies of different host countries, and international and exchange students joining the York University community. The “pen pal” system aims to help students feel more informed, supported, and comfortable in making the decision to pursue an academic year abroad or Virtual Exchange between York and its international network of academic institutions, supporting them as they endeavour to develop global competencies for future globally engaged careers. The goal of this project is to build an online platform for this “pen pal” system that includes some or all of the following features: an apparatus for students to express concerns and ask questions about academia or pursuing a career abroad, a centralized method to reach out and talk to potential graduates from other countries and from York, opportunities for students to share what they want to see in school programs abroad and at York, and ways to see at a glance what programs fostering international skills at York offer. We intend for this application to be used by prospective and future international students at York, as well as by York students considering study abroad or other international learning experiences. Two key aspects of this project are the creation and maintenance of a network of participants who have an incentive to share their experiences within the application framework, and the design of an intuitive UI/UX that integrates everyone’s experiences into an interactive platform/application. In addition to background knowledge of web/app design, software development, and digital communication, students might be interested in international studies, communications, humanities, or sociology.
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Partner Video
Organizational Profile
Globally Networked Learning (GNL) refers to an approach to research, learning, and teaching that provides students, faculty, and non-academics from all over the world with a platform to collaborate with one another. Participants are able to engage in knowledge-making processes and concrete learning projects that enhance experiential education with the aid of various forms of technology, including learning management systems, video conferencing software and hardware, cloud computing, and social media. The GNL project at York University began in 2015 and currently operates under York International, bringing researchers, instructors, and students together to imagine and experiment with the idea of ‘global thinking’ as a critical skill for globally networked working environments. Sponsored by York International and the GNL team, participants are brought together to collaborate on projects that bring diverse perspectives to produce a richer, more nuanced understanding of the issue(s) at hand. GNL environments support student-centred learning and teaching for the twenty-first century university. They support the development of global competencies among both students and instructors who need to adapt, thrive, and succeed as global citizens engaged in complex, intercultural problem-solving. As a form of experiential education that transcends borders, the promise of GNL can be reinforced through open pedagogy, development of digital literacy and production, and other forms of innovative knowledge-making practices across cultures.
Partner Website
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Additional Resources
Key Words
- Study/Work Abroad
- International Students
- Digital Platform