This presentation highlights the case of a successful collaborative international virtual exchange (IVE) program between Pennsylvania State University in the U.S. and An-Najah National University (ANNU) in Palestine. The program aimed at developing students' interpersonal and patient-health care practitioner communication skills through collaborative activities. With this objective in mind, the program was designed employing elements of both cross cultural dialogue and team-based approaches to IVE. Students were divided into groups at the start of the program, and using synchronous and asynchronous modes of communication, had to engage in collaborative activities that promote teamwork and cross-cultural dialogue. Over the course of 4 weeks, students and facilitators met weekly via zoom. During these live sessions, students within their teams were engaged in a number of activities to share and learn about each others’ identities and cultural perceptions of mental health and practice cross cultural dialogue communication tools. Students also had to work collaboratively to explore different mental health case studies and how they are perceived within their communities through local interviews. In parallel to the live sessions, teams worked collaboratively asynchronously on shared assignments that corresponded to the live discussions. In addition to these activities, students completed weekly self reflection journals on the learning experience. The IVE took into consideration the sociopolitical context of ANNU students living under occupation, creating space for the participants to learn about one another’s daily lived reality including ad hoc dialogues on unexpected events happening in Palestine. This was achieved by having a flexible program plan, facilitators meeting on a regular basis during the implementation phase and collecting students’ feedback throughout the program. The presentation will include analysis of qualitative and anecdotal results and recommendations.

Conference Title

IVEC - International virtual exchange conference

Conference Country

Brazil

Conference Date

Oct. 30, 2023 - Nov. 1, 2023

Conference Sponsor

FAUBAI and Unesp

Additional Info

Conference Website