Every virtual exchange is designed with intentions for how students will communicate, collaborate, and learn together. But what makes those experiences impactful—and how can faculty create the conditions for productive exchange without predetermining what students must think or conclude?

For U.S. colleges and universities, embedding well-designed VE/COIL into curricula strengthens American students' career readiness—giving them direct experience collaborating with global partners while sharpening the critical thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving skills essential to a 21st-century workforce.

Productive collaboration requires more than connecting students across institutions—it also depends on the learning environment faculty create and the differing perspectives, expectations, and reasoning students bring to the exchange. Moments of disagreement or misunderstanding aren't setbacks; they can be valuable opportunities for students to strengthen the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that matter in today's workforce.

Drawing on research and practice in virtual exchange, intercultural communication, transformative learning, and global learning assessment, this webinar examines how faculty can turn these interactions into stronger learning and workforce outcomes. Speakers will explore approaches that support communication, teamwork, critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and leadership while expanding access to international learning for American students and strengthening the capacity of U.S. higher education institutions to build effective global partnerships.

What You'll Gain

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

Consider how VE/COIL can expand international learning opportunities for American students while building career-ready skills and leadership capacity.
Examine how faculty design choices and learner characteristics shape communication, participation, and learning in virtual exchange.
Analyze how perspectives, prior experiences, language, and communication styles influence collaboration, including during moments of tension and misunderstanding.
Explore research-informed approaches that strengthen communication, teamwork, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving.
Use evidence of student experiences and learning to strengthen VE/COIL design, assessment, and its contribution to U.S. higher education’s international engagement and workforce preparation.

Speakers

Hiba B. Ibrahim
Assistant Professor in the Applied English Program, Applied Science Private University (Jordan)
Jennifer Wiley
Co-Founder & Partner, CoreCollaborative International