Higher education institutions are key in preparing students for a connected world, nurturing not just academic skills but also intercultural understanding and global citizenship. One effective way to achieve this is through Internationalisation at home (IaH), which brings global experiences into local classrooms. As discussed in the seminar, Virtual Exchange (VE)—structured online collaboration across borders—stands out as a vital tool for IaH, allowing students to engage with diverse perspectives without leaving home.
Yet, as Prof. Mirjam Hauck pointed out, VE has its challenges. Issues like digital inequality, the dominance of English, and entrenched power dynamics can limit its inclusivity. This is where Critical Virtual Exchange (CVE) steps in, blending critical Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and critical Global Citizenship Education to tackle these barriers. By prioritizing social justice, CVE turns VE into more than just a teaching tool—it becomes a platform for socio-political change, encouraging students to critically examine and challenge systemic inequities.
In her seminar, Prof. Hauck shared a practical framework for CVE, rooted in equity, accessibility, and action-driven learning. Through real-world examples, from urban sustainability initiatives to indigenous rights advocacy, she showed how CVE can spark meaningful cross-cultural conversations while supporting global goals like the UN SDGs.
(length: 01:03:01)
View her presentation slides here: Presentation Slides_Prof Mirjam Hauck_20 May 2025.pdf
Outline of this Sharing Session:
Critical CALL through Critical Virtual Exchange
Presenter: Prof. Mirjam Hauck
00:00 – 02:28 | Introduction to digital pedagogy, virtual exchange, and global citizenship |
02:29 – 12:36 | Background and experience of Prof. Mirjam in digital and critical pedagogies |
12:37 – 27:34 | Overview of Critical Virtual Exchange (CVE), and its relevance to social justice and inclusion |
27:35 – 37:31 | Frameworks for critical, intersectional, and decolonial approaches in CVE |
37:32 – 54:06 | Strategies for implementation: low-bandwidth tech, underrepresented groups, SDGs, and translingual practices |
54:07 – 55:48 | AI literacy and critical evaluation as key competencies in virtual exchange. |
55:49 – 01:01:36 | Practical projects including city mapping, social innovation, indigenous collaborations, and intercultural belonging. |
01:01:37 – 01:03:01 | Final reflections on virtual exchange’s potential for social justice and global citizenship. |