(L-R): Sarah Brown, Sharon Guan, GianMario Besana, Lisa Gibbons, Rosi Leon, Emily Kraus and Bridget Wagner (Photo by Keeton Holder/DePaul University)Earlier this month, DePaul celebrated the 10th anniversary of the virtual exchange Global Learning Experience program. From China to Brazil, DePaul has reached thousands of students around the world, establishing its global leadership in the field of collaborative online international learning.
GLE uses technology to connect classrooms in Chicago to students and faculty around the world. DePaul faculty, working with global partners, carefully design learning experiences that engage students in concrete collaborative projects with their peers from different cultural, linguistic and geographic backgrounds.
As part of transforming international learning exchanges, DePaul has extended its reach by helping other institutions around the world launch and expand their own global virtual exchange programs. DePaul is one of the founding institutions of the International Virtual Exchange Consortium, an organization that runs an annual conference for practitioners and scholars from around the world to discuss virtual global learning experiences.
Since 2013, DePaul has been recognized for its global leadership in this field through the Professional and Organizational Development Innovation Award and NAFSA’s Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award.
“We are extremely proud of what faculty and students involved in GLE have accomplished in fostering global relationships and intercultural learning experiences,” says GianMario Besana, associate provost for Global Engagement and Online Learning.
Kelly Tzoumis, a professor in the School of Public Service, is among the many DePaul faculty members ensuring GLE’s success. Through the program, Tzoumis has taught over 1,000 students around the world and recently worked with students from Brazil, Greece, the Navajo Nation and the Netherlands on projects about environmental sustainability.
“We look forward to providing even more international opportunities like GLE to students,” says Rosi Leon, director of virtual exchange. “Our special thanks go out to DePaul's leadership for their continuous support and advocacy to provide access to transformative, international opportunities for students.”
Watch the 10th anniversary video here and learn more about GLE here.
Emily Diaz is a student assistant for internal communications in University Communications.