Abstract:

Mobile apps have been rapidly developing in Higher Education (HE) to improve student experience. They are used in various ways, including learning, organisation, and engagement tools. Despite the widespread use of mobile apps in HE institutions, there is a lack of sufficient apps specifically tailored for educators. Internationalisation is considered a key strategy in HE to enhance academic quality and prepare students for a global workforce. The Globalizer app is a ground-breaking solution designed to facilitate international collaboration in education, aiming to internationalise curricula and foster learning and teaching innovations. Inspired by the need to connect academics, for free, and to create new projects amidst physical limitations, Globalizer was born as a Tinder-like platform for educators seeking online collaborative opportunities.

This presentation will present the journey of developing the Globalizer app, which emerged as part of a larger vision of a Global Engagement Centre at Leeds Trinity University. The app was envisioned as a crucial component of the virtual international projects pillar, aiming to enable educators to connect and collaborate on innovative projects for their students, in a sustainable, cost-effective way.

Through collaboration with the Computer Science School at Leeds Trinity University, three talented students were involved in the initial design of the app during their placement period. With the acquisition of additional funding, we were able to engage a developer and initiate the development process.

The Globalizer app functions by allowing educators to create projects, which users can swipe through and express their interest in. Once accepted by the project owner, both the user and project owner can communicate within the app to develop the project on mutually agreed terms. The app’s website, www.globalizer.co.uk provides detailed information about its features and functionality.

The potential impact on students is significant, as internationalising curricula prepares them to become global citizens. The Globalizer app serves as a networking platform, fostering collaboration and providing students with transformative opportunities to work together across borders. Research indicates that students who work on international collaborations show enhanced course engagement, along with the development of transferable skills such as cultural understanding, organisation, communication and global awareness.

By enabling educators to connect, create, and nurture global collaborative projects, Globalizer aims to revolutionise education and empower students with the skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. An initial usability study was carried out, and participants' feedback indicated promising results in terms of efficiency, user satisfaction, and ease of use.

Keywords:

Global, collaboration, innovation, mobile app, internationalisation.