Reaching across continents: engaging students through virtual collaborations

Abstract

a sheffield Business school, sheffield Hallam university, sheffield, uK; b international education consulting services, curitiba, Brazil ABSTRACT Business schools have the responsibility of preparing students for work in multicultural organisations and global markets. This paper examines a situated learning experience for undergraduates through a virtual collaboration between a UK university and a Brazilian university. This facilitated remote communication using social media and smart devices, allowing students from both institutions to enhance their cross-cultural management competencies. A qualitative approach was used for the research, drawing on the reflections of the tutors from both institutions and feedback received from students in the UK and Brazil. This paper provides empirical observations regarding the use of this innovative pedagogic approach, generating discussion of the implications for teaching, thus contributing to the literature on international collaborations in cross-cultural management education.

Training Bachelor of Tourism to the Profession in Terms of Multicultural Educational Space

“…Thus, according to scientists (Wilmot, Rushton & Hofmann, 2016) an important component should be the preparation of students to work in a globalized world, the development of intercultural communication skills. Particular attention is paid to the formation of intercultural competence and ways of its development (Perry & Southwell, 2011;Chiper, 2013;Busby, 2001).…”

“…It is clear that the priority is intercultural communication, which skills and experience must be taken into account in the context of real tourism practices (Wilmot, Rushton & Hofmann, 2016). These special requirements need to understand that «the content of different cultures can not be compared» (Cooper, 2002;Holden, 2007), and therefore need to collect information about the world, ways of action, incentives actions («cultural patterns»).…”

“…It is about «the skills of intercultural management using social networks» (Wilmot, Rushton, & Hofmann, 2016). Any situations of intercultural communication that arise during travel create opportunities for the subject to become a carrier of cultural information.…”

“…Any situations of intercultural communication that arise during travel create opportunities for the subject to become a carrier of cultural information. At the same time, scientists are focusing on creating a special information system that would allow a person, without leaving his apartment, to «visit» anywhere in the world (Wilmot, Rushton, & Hofmann, 2016). Examples of such virtual trips and museum visits exist.…”

Virtual exchange: towards digital equity in internationalisation

“…With few exceptions (e.g. Schadewitz, 2009, which delves into some design 'patterns'), discussions around communication often emphasize technology use as paramount to establishing connections between participants (as in Wilmot, Rushton, & Hofmann, 2016). In order to fully support intercultural learning and collaboration beyond tools, logistics, and technology, instructors have a responsibility to introduce communication strategies and interpersonal competencies into their pedagogies.…”