Marginalization and Underrepresentation in Global VE Initiatives
Presentation Summary
This symposium reports on the results of a comprehensive multi-site research study of marginalization and underrepresentation in global virtual exchange initiatives in four geopolitical regions - the Middle East, South America, Central/East Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa - with the goal to unpack Western hegemonies in global intercultural education.
Paper 1: Understanding Marginalization and Underrepresentation in Global Intercultural Education. Presenters: Mirjam Hauck and Nael Alami
Paper 2: The Causes of Marginalization and Underrepresentation in Global Virtual Exchange Initiatives: A Comprehensive Survey of Stakeholders in Four Geopolitical Sectors. Presenters: Loye Ashton and James Elwood
This paper will present the results of a global multi-site mixed-method research study that sought to identify various obstacles preventing educators and administrators in four geopolitical regions of the world – the Middle East, South America, Central and East Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa – from considering VE as a vehicle of intercultural education.
Paper 3: Overcoming Marginalization and Underrepresentation in Global Virtual Exchange Initiatives: Preliminary Recommendations and Future Directions. Presenters: Muge Satar /Liudmila Klimanova and Kwesi Ewoodzie.
In this paper, drawing from interviews with administrators and educators in four geopolitical regions, we will present concrete examples of underrepresentation in Global Intercultural VE and formulate recommendations for VE programs and education policy makers that address issues of access, inclusivity, and marginalization. In doing so we will share insights into the negative impact of marginalization on global intercultural education.
Primary Presenter
Mirjam Hauck, The Open University
State (if in the U.S.)
Country
United Kingdom
Professional Biography
Dr. Hauck is Associate Head of School who is responsible for Internationalisation, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies at the Open University. She belongs to a network of researchers who have successfully Implemented several EU ERASMUS Plus-funded projects.
Secondary Presenters
Liudmila Klimanova, University of Arizona
State (if in the U.S.)
AZ
Country
USA
Professional Biography
Dr. Liudmila Klimanova (Ph.D. in Second Language Acquisition and Educational Technology), is Assistant Professor and a research fellow at the Center for Digital Humanities at the University of Arizona. Dr. Klimanova’s research focuses on the intersection of critical pedagogies and intercultural virtual learning (critical virtual exchange), social justice, online education and COIL.
Müge Satar, Newcastle University, UK
State (if in the U.S.)
Country
United Kingdom
Professional Biography
Dr Müge Satar is a Lecturer in Applied Linguistics and TESOL at the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, Newcastle University (UK). Her teaching and research focus on foreign language learning and teaching using technology and through online multimodal interaction. Dr Satar is the School Director of internationalisation, executive board member of UNICollaboration, and co-editor of the Journal of Virtual Exchange.
Nael Alami, Modern University for Business and Science (MUBS)
State (if in the U.S.)
Country
Lebanon
Professional Biography
Dr Nael Alami is a molecular neuroscientist, education policy expert, and Provost of the Modern University for Business and Science (MUBS), a multi-campus, not-for-profit university in Lebanon. He is the founder of the Virtual Exchange Program at MUBS (2015), which houses virtual exchange classes in multiple disciplines, including Medical Sciences, Public Health, Education, Languages, and History.
Dr. Loye Sekihata Ashton, Class2Class
State (if in the U.S.)
Country
USA
Professional Biography
Dr. Loye Sekihata Ashton is VP of Partnerships and Chief Academic Officer at Class2Class, an educational technology company based in Silicon Valley that empowers future ready graduates through collaborative intelligence solutions.Since September of 2019 he has worked with Class2Class to help develop ImmerseU into one of the leading global virtual exchange and virtual mobility platforms.
Kwesi Ewoodzie, Culture Beyond Borders (CBB)
State (if in the U.S.)
Georgia
Country
USA
Professional Biography
Dr. Kwesi Ewoodzie (PhD) is a Ghanaian-American, the founder of Culture Beyond Borders (CBB), and an organizational culture consultant who facilitates virtual and in-person cross-cultural exchanges,
James A. Elwood, Meiji University
State (if in the U.S.)
Country
Japan
Professional Biography
James A. Elwood is Professor at Meiji University, Japan. His areas of research expertise include statistics in second language acquisition research, use of technology in second and foreign language education, and academic writing.