Virtual Exchange to Develop Global Citizenship and Promote Sustainable Development Goal 3.4
Higher education institutions should prepare students to address global health challenges in an increasingly interconnected world. This study investigates how a virtual exchange project between North-West University in South Africa and Georgia State University in the United States of America are de...
| _version_ | 1849559835845066752 |
|---|---|
| author | Wynina Jansen van Vuuren Yolande Heymans Jessica Pool Courtney Strosnider |
| author_facet | Wynina Jansen van Vuuren Yolande Heymans Jessica Pool Courtney Strosnider |
| author_sort | Wynina Jansen van Vuuren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| container_title | Open Praxis |
| description |
Higher education institutions should prepare students to address global health challenges in an increasingly interconnected world. This study investigates how a virtual exchange project between North-West University in South Africa and Georgia State University in the United States of America are developing global citizenship among undergraduate health students while promoting Sustainable Development Goal 3.4. This goal aims to reduce noncommunicable disease mortality through prevention and treatment. A constructivist-interpretivist paradigm and a qualitative methodology were used to collect data through open-ended reflective questionnaires. Thematic analysis identified three themes: understanding global citizenship, virtual exchange as a vehicle to develop global citizenship, and promoting Sustainable Development Goal 3.4. The findings demonstrated that virtual exchange significantly enhanced participants’ understanding of global health issues, raised awareness of global responsibilities, and promoted intercultural competence. Participants reported personal growth and a sense of responsibility towards global health. These insights demonstrate that integrating a virtual exchange project into health curricula can develop global citizenship in students and promote Sustainable Development Goal 3.4.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-20002dbcd7e2472db494316331b66975 |
| institution | Directory of Open Access Journals |
| issn | 1369-9997 2304-070X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) |
| record_format | Article |
| spelling | doaj-art-20002dbcd7e2472db494316331b669752025-08-20T02:35:59ZengInternational Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)Open Praxis1369-99972304-070X2025-07-0117210.55982/openpraxis.17.2.776Virtual Exchange to Develop Global Citizenship and Promote Sustainable Development Goal 3.4Wynina Jansen van Vuuren0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9680-2441Yolande Heymans1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4459-2266Jessica Pool2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6839-4419Courtney Strosnider3https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9897-0694Centre for Health Professions Education, North-West University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Potchefstroom, 2531Centre for Health Professions Education, North-West University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Potchefstroom, 2531Centre for Health Professions Education, North-West University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Potchefstroom, 2531Department of Kinesiology and Health, Georgia State University, College of Education and Human Development, Atlanta, Georgia, 30301 Higher education institutions should prepare students to address global health challenges in an increasingly interconnected world. This study investigates how a virtual exchange project between North-West University in South Africa and Georgia State University in the United States of America are developing global citizenship among undergraduate health students while promoting Sustainable Development Goal 3.4. This goal aims to reduce noncommunicable disease mortality through prevention and treatment. A constructivist-interpretivist paradigm and a qualitative methodology were used to collect data through open-ended reflective questionnaires. Thematic analysis identified three themes: understanding global citizenship, virtual exchange as a vehicle to develop global citizenship, and promoting Sustainable Development Goal 3.4. The findings demonstrated that virtual exchange significantly enhanced participants’ understanding of global health issues, raised awareness of global responsibilities, and promoted intercultural competence. Participants reported personal growth and a sense of responsibility towards global health. These insights demonstrate that integrating a virtual exchange project into health curricula can develop global citizenship in students and promote Sustainable Development Goal 3.4. https://account.openpraxis.org/index.php/up-j-op/wp-admin/ALFA_DATA/alfacgiapi/index.php/up-j-op/article/view/https:/account.openpraxis.org/index.php/up-j-op/wp-admin/ALFA_DATA/alfacgiapi/index.php/up-j-op/announcement/view/https:/account.openpraxis.org/index.php/up-j-op/wp-admin/ALFA_DATA/alfacgiapi/index.php/up-j-op/article/view/https:/account.openpraxis.org/index.php/up-j-op/wp-admin/ALFA_DATA/alfacgiapi/index.php/up-j-op/article/view/776Global CitizenshipGlobal Citizenship EducationHigher EducationNoncommunicable DiseaseSustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development Goals 3.4 |
| spellingShingle | Wynina Jansen van Vuuren Yolande Heymans Jessica Pool Courtney Strosnider Virtual Exchange to Develop Global Citizenship and Promote Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 Global Citizenship Global Citizenship Education Higher Education Noncommunicable Disease Sustainable Development Sustainable Development Goals 3.4 |
| title | Virtual Exchange to Develop Global Citizenship and Promote Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 |
| title_full | Virtual Exchange to Develop Global Citizenship and Promote Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 |
| title_fullStr | Virtual Exchange to Develop Global Citizenship and Promote Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Virtual Exchange to Develop Global Citizenship and Promote Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 |
| title_short | Virtual Exchange to Develop Global Citizenship and Promote Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 |
| title_sort | virtual exchange to develop global citizenship and promote sustainable development goal 3 4 |
| topic | Global Citizenship Global Citizenship Education Higher Education Noncommunicable Disease Sustainable Development Sustainable Development Goals 3.4 |
| url | https://account.openpraxis.org/index.php/up-j-op/wp-admin/ALFA_DATA/alfacgiapi/index.php/up-j-op/article/view/https:/account.openpraxis.org/index.php/up-j-op/wp-admin/ALFA_DATA/alfacgiapi/index.php/up-j-op/announcement/view/https:/account.openpraxis.org/index.php/up-j-op/wp-admin/ALFA_DATA/alfacgiapi/index.php/up-j-op/article/view/https:/account.openpraxis.org/index.php/up-j-op/wp-admin/ALFA_DATA/alfacgiapi/index.php/up-j-op/article/view/776 |
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