This mixed-methods research study focuses on the efficacy of virtual exchange (VE) in promoting authentic cross-cultural immersion, critical awareness of social issues, and collective engagement in local and global communities among undergraduate students. The partner institutions in this VE project were a large public US university and a small private university in Hong Kong. Discussions focused on access and opportunity issues in the US and Hong Kong for various communities, leading to a deeper analysis of the distribution of power and privilege in both countries. I analyzed the impact of VE on the US students (n = 45) through pre- and post-test surveys using the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS), which measures cross-cultural competence and thematic analysis of student artifacts. VE students’ competence significantly increased from pre-test to post-test on the ISS, while the students in a similar course without VE (n = 28) showed no change. Analysis of student artifacts revealed a shift in global awareness, an appreciation of authentic insights about another the culture, a critical understanding of social structures, and a need for collaboration concerning global issues among youth. Overall, VE offered powerful and enriching experiences for students by integrating international immersion into college education courses.
Ruchi Bhatnagar (Mon,) studied this question.