Unlocking the power of virtual discussions to achieve composition class outcomes and global skills

Cross-cultural dialogue is essential in our increasingly interconnected world. That’s why we facilitate virtual discussions between our composition class students. Now in its tenth edition, this project, born out of COVID-19 restrictions, offers various benefits for students in the international liberal arts environment.

Students gain more than theoretical knowledge. They broaden their horizons and challenge their assumptions by reading independently, listening to diverse perspectives, learning about new backgrounds and building emotional intelligence. Furthermore, they develop practical skills in engaging with others and understanding how contexts matter.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is a shared practice. We foster an inclusive environment by engaging in icebreaker activities through class discussions and active involvement in topic selection, introductory emails or informal greetings through platforms like Padlet. These activities build a shared space that fosters meaningful connections, self-interrogation, and idea exchange. Other AMICAL institutions can adopt these tools to create similar opportunities for cross-institutional collaborations. Past participants have come from the American University of Nigeria (AUN), the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), Parami University in Myanmar, the American University of Afghanistan (AUF) and BRAC University, Bangladesh.

This model creates a valuable learning experience for students and helps them explore contextualized values, understand cultural nuances, respect diversity and embrace global citizenship. In the composition classes, it enhances research, critical thinking, communication, and presentation skills. It also strengthens inter-faculty partnerships across AMICAL institutions.