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Keywords

collaboration, cultural sustainability, higher education, internationalization, sustainable development goals

Special Issue

Winter 2025: Higher Education in Gulf Region

Abstract

International education is of critical importance in the creation and distribution of the knowledge required to address the complex global challenges faced by society today. Seen through the lens of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), internationalisation of higher education can bring new perspectives through collaborative projects. This paper reports on a year-long virtual collaboration between the American University of Sharjah (AUS) in the UAE and the Italy-based program of Dickinson College (USA) as part of the Transformative Sustainability Project. This collaboration involved two courses, on digital and environmental humanities, as students learned about the SDGs, analysed problems, discussed solutions, and applied their knowledge in various group and individual activities centered around the concept of cultural sustainability. The paper discusses the design and approach of this collaborative project, as well as the results of the students’ collaborative assignments, surveys and reflections on their experience. The study found that the virtual exchange enhanced students’ understanding of sustainability beyond environmental concerns, fostered intercultural awareness, and developed leadership and communication skills. Surveys indicated that students experienced growth in cultural sensitivity, critical thinking, and teamwork, despite challenges related to scheduling and collaboration logistics. Finally, the paper proposes some recommendations for the future of virtual exchange for internationalisation and sustainability education.

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