Enhancing Diversity and Inclusiveness in Transnational Higher Education through Virtual International Project

In an increasingly interconnected world, utilizing technology to create diverse and inclusive educational environments opens up new possibilities for bringing together people from different cultural backgrounds. This project explores how cross-disciplinary virtual international collaboration between Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) and Durban University of Technology (DUT) in South Africa enhances diversity and inclusiveness in transnational higher education (TNHE). By inviting students and teaching staff from both XJTLU and DUT to collaboratively co-construct knowledge in a four-week virtual project-based learning experience, this article examines how virtual intercultural collaboration fostered a rich environment for enhancing inclusivity and student engagement.
During the project, participants were encouraged to communicate and negotiate their unique perspectives to find solutions to critical cultural incidents. The project underscores the importance of diverse student voices in driving meaningful educational change and offers a model for fostering engagement and inclusivity through virtual collaboration.

Keywords: Global Virtual Exchange, collaborative learning, inclusivity, diversity.