Barzinji Institute
for Global Virtual Learning
Mission Statement
The Barzinji Institute for Global Virtual Learning collaborates with institutions of higher education around the world to explore the similarities and differences in their missions and practices, to understand the challenges that they face and to create solutions in light of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What We Are
The Jamal Barzinji Institute for Global Virtual Learning honors Dr. Barzinji’s legacy as an educator, community builder, and humanitarian. This collaboration provides opportunities for individuals and institutions to explore, analyze, and engage in critical thinking, and cross-cultural communication to identify and pursue shared goals.
Pillars
Academic
The Academic pillar primarily consists of Collaborative Online International Learning or (COIL). This is where faculty from Shenandoah work with faculty from another part of the world to create a module in their classes where the domestic and international students work on a joint project. Faculty design the module together and have their students work on their projects throughout the semester together, virtually. Both faculty members go through a specifically designed workshop to learn the best practices of COIL virtual exchange and create an abstract of the module.
To learn more about COIL please watch our webinar “Getting Started with COIL”. To learn more about COIL at Shenandoah listen to this podcast and read this short blog “Marriage Across Cultures”. The Shenandoah COIL program has been fortunate to receive several awards and recognitions, most recently one from the US-UK Fulbright Commission.
Service
The Service pillar develops a service project between Shenandoah and an international university regarding one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently, the institute is coordinating a “Zero Hunger Project” with Yarmouk University in Jordan that aims to address the issue of food insecurity in their respective communities. The various delegations are conducting surveys on how to best serve their local clientele and will share the findings with one another to produce a joint research publication. They further travel to visit one another and see firsthand the impacted populations.
To learn more about the Global Service Project please see this article on how the surveys are impacting the local Winchester community and this one regarding its recent trip to Jordan.
Conference
The conference pillar highlights the Institute’s various initiatives such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), its Global Service Project and Virtual Reality projects. In Fall 2023, the Barzinji Institute held its second conference where partners from around the world – from the United Kingdom to Malaysia – presented on their collaborative projects with Shenandoah faculty, staff and students. Keynote and plenary speakers shared insights and ideas regarding innovation in higher education and the future of global virtual learning.
The video recordings of the conference are available on our YouTube channel.
Barzinji Institute News
Series Introduces Shenandoah Students To Arab Culture Ahead Of Collaboration With Jordanian Partners
Intro to Arab culture series prepared first-year students for virtual exchange opportunity with Yarmouk University
Shenandoah Preparing Students For Virtual Exchange Opportunity With Intro To Arab Culture Series
SU, Yarmouk University partnering on Virtually Going Global program funded by the Stevens Initiative
Gift Perpetuates Barzinji Institute’s Work
Gift Allows Shenandoah-based Institute To Continue Offering Global Virtual Learning Experiences Around the World
Honoring Dr. Jamal Barzinji
“Respect for humanity is the foundation of all interaction.”
– Jamal Barzinji
Dr. Jamal Barzinji was an intellectual educator and community builder who advocated for “collective action on pressing contemporary issues. Education, health care, civil rights, racial justice, gender equality — he did not view these as political or intellectual debates, but as pivotal opportunities to create and ensure societal harmony.” (Islamic Horizons, 2015) He was involved in the establishment of many major Islamic organizations in the United States over the last four decades, including the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the International Institution of Islamic Thought (IIIT), and previously served for many years as an academic dean at the International Islamic University in Malaysia (Islamic Horizons, 2015). In order to honor Dr. Barzinji’s legacy as an educator, community builder and humanitarian, Shenandoah University launched the Jamal Barzinji Project for International Collaboration to Advance Higher Education.
Watch this short documentary on the life of Dr. Jamal Barzinji and this conference on his legacy.
Dr. Jamal Barzinji’s Legacy
Seminar On Dr. Jamal Barzinji
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The Barzinji Institute & Shenandoah University
Shenandoah has partnered with Bridgewater College and two universities in Muslim-majority countries (the University of Sarajevo, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and the International Islamic University Malaysia in Selangor, Malaysia) to learn how to provide better opportunities for civil discourse within higher education.