Virtual Student Mobility from Students’ Perspectives: Case study from Japan

Enkhtur Ariunaa

Li Ming

Zhang Xixi

Higher Education Forum

[PISSN] 2432-9614

[NCID] AA1187795X

International student exchange is integral to internationalization at higher education institutions and global human resource development in Japan. However, border closures and restrictions on physical mobility since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic forced universities to adopt virtual mobility models to deliver international exchange programs. This study explores students’ experiences of taking virtual exchange programs and their pedagogical implications for future virtual exchange programs. In this paper, we present one case of virtual student mobility implemented at one national university in Japan. Analysis of multiple data sets, including student surveys (n=789), reflection papers (n=420), and interviews with a program administrator and a faculty member, revealed that this type of virtual student mobility program has strong merits in promoting internationalization activities. Students were satisfied with the diverse interdisciplinary academic content, flexibility in taking the course, and opportunity to engage with the host university faculty members and international students. Many have expressed their interest in studying at the host university in person.

internationalization of higher education

virtual student mobility

students’ perspectives

Japanese university

case study

eng

Research Institute for Higher Education, Hiroshima University

広島大学高等教育研究開発センター

[ISBN] 978-4-86637-044-6 isPartOf

日本学術振興会

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

[Crossref Funder] https://doi.org/10.13039/501100001691

Investigating Virtual Student Exchange Practices and Models: Challenges and Possibilities in Tertiary Education

Investigating Virtual Student Exchange Practices and Models: Challenges and Possibilities in Tertiary Education

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