On May 14, the Stevens Initiative announced Shenandoah University is one of 11 schools, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations to receive funding to run virtual exchange programs that connect young people in the United States and the Middle East and North Africa.
Virtually Going Global is implemented by Shenandoah University and is supported by the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative (JCSVEI). JCSVEI is a U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs program administered by the Aspen Institute.
“We are honored to welcome 11 new grantees today. Together, we are embarking on a journey of discovery and continued growth in the virtual exchange field. This marks a major milestone towards our vision of a world where virtual exchange is part of every young person’s life,” said Christine Shiau, Executive Director of the Stevens Initiative. “Each grantee embodies the spirit of innovation and collaboration necessary to help young people unlock their creativity, foster critical thinking skills, form friendships, and feel connected to the world. Their dedication to lifelong learning will help us create opportunities that transcend boundaries, inspiring a brighter, more interconnected future for all.”
Virtual exchange connects young people from around the world for learning and collaboration, immersing them in digital spaces to gain practical skills and build friendships along the way. It is a powerful tool to reimagine what global learning looks like, how it can be conducted, and how many people participate.
Shenandoah University’s (SU) Virtually Going Global brings together American and Jordanian undergraduate students for dialogue focused on designated common experiences or joint projects, led by student leaders trained in dialogue facilitation. This virtual exchange creates a space for students to engage in a shared experience ranging from a common event (i.e. speaker, performance, documentary), cultural artifact project, or individually designed assignment. Integrated into SU’s general education curriculum as a requirement for first year students, and as an optional course for Yarmouk University students in Jordan, binational groups develop projects based on their shared experiences that promote intercultural competencies and multiple perspectives. Each year, projects will be showcased at a culminating event in both regions.
“Incorporating global virtual learning into every First Year Seminar class at Shenandoah University allows us to enhance our curriculum and continue to expand our educational opportunities beyond the borders of our institution. Working alongside our partner institution, Yarmouk University, our students will be introduced to the values of cross-cultural engagement and collaboration that will create a strong foundation for their time at SU,” remarked Amy Sarch, Shenandoah University’s Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. “We thank the J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative for their generous support, and for recognizing the important role of global learning experiences in today’s interconnected world. Virtually Going Global will create new and exciting opportunities for our students and will foster a sense of global community from the very start of their Shenandoah journey.”
The 2024 J. Christopher Stevens Virtual Exchange Initiative Grantees will reach nearly 10,000 young people across the U.S. and Middle East and North Africa. Other grants include:
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Digital Promise’s Building Apps Across Cultures
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Florida International University’s Virtual Tabadul: Creating Language-Learning Community Through Virtual Reality
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Global Nomads Group’s (GNG) Overcoming Bias in AI
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Miami Dade College’s Climate Stories
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Seattle University School of Law’s Transitional Justice Legal Exchange
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Take Action Global’s Taking Climate Action Together
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Texas International Education Consortium’s Community Climate Connect
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United Planet’s Youth2Youth Impact Investing
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University of Florida’s Hands-on Energy and Thermo-fluids (HEAT) Program
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World Learning’s STEAM Innovations
More Information
Shenandoah University was established in 1875, and is headquartered in Winchester, Virginia, with additional educational sites in Clarke and Loudoun counties. Shenandoah is a private, nationally recognized university that blends professional career experiences with wide-ranging education. With approximately 4,300 students in more than 200 areas of study in six different schools, Shenandoah promotes a close-knit community rich in creative energy and intellectual challenge. Shenandoah students collaborate with accomplished professors who provide focused, individual attention. Through innovative partnerships and programs at both the local and global level, there are exceptional opportunities for students to learn in and out of the classroom, and several programs are highly nationally ranked. Shenandoah empowers its students to improve the human condition and to be principled professionals and leaders wherever they go. For more information, visit su.edu.
The Stevens Initiative is an international leader in virtual exchange, which brings young people from diverse places together to collaborate and connect through everyday technology. Created in 2015 as a lasting tribute to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, the Initiative invests in virtual exchange programs; shares research, resources, and promising practices to improve impact; and advocates for broader adoption. Learn more: https://www.stevensinitiative.
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) builds relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, professional and private exchanges, as well as public-private partnerships and mentoring programs. These exchange programs improve foreign relations and strengthen the national security of the United States, support U.S. international leadership, and provide a broad range of domestic benefits by helping break down barriers that often divide us. Visit eca.state.gov.
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.
