Abstract:

Most universities worldwide have embraced the goal of internationalizing their curriculum to foster the development of global citizens. In this pursuit, global virtual collaborations have emerged as a promising approach.

“Global Journalism Collaborations: worldwide storytelling projects in higher education” is a ground-breaking book set to be published by Routledge in late 2023. It serves as a handbook to implementing global virtual collaborations in the fields of communications, media and journalism within higher education and is adaptable to all disciplines.

This presentation will showcase the case studies of several worldwide projects providing valuable insights into the development, execution and outcomes of such collaborations, while serving as a powerful teaching tool to inspire student engagement with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds, all working together virtually.

We will discuss the evolving technological landscape and the transformative experiences students gain through their participation as well as providing a wealth of ideas and inspiration for educators across all disciplines.

Drawing from extensive interviews with students, graduates, university instructors and professionals at universities around the world, “Global Journalism Collaborations” presents a wide variety of perspectives on the workings of virtual collaborations. We’ll highlight the unique position of universities in fostering collaborative environments, where students have the opportunity to engage in equal-footed partnerships with peers from different cultures, devoid of the influence of a single media corporation or dominant culture.

By embracing virtual collaborations, universities empower students to collaborate and learn from one another in a globally interconnected world, all while learning their course material. This presentation will explore the principles and practices presented in the book and emphasisz the potential of virtual collaborations in higher education. Our goal is to inspire educators to integrate global virtual collaborations into their curricula and help their students to become active participants in an interconnected and diverse world.

Keywords:

International projects, global collaboration, experiential learning, journalism, storytelling.