Focus on International Education: Empire State University Hosts “Learning for a Sustainable Future” Virtual Exchange

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – November 16, 2023) Empire State University’s Center for International Exchange hosted a three-week virtual residency from October 9-29 with the Universidad Accion Pro-Educacion y Cultura (UNAPEC) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. 53 SUNY Empire students and 66 UNAPEC students participated in the asynchronous exchange, part of a shared learning module taught by six SUNY Empire faculty and five UNAPEC faculty across a wide range of disciplines.  

The residency was set up bilingually to support students from each institution, with all learning modules and course materials set up in English and Spanish. Students used tools like Google Translate to aid in communication with each other.  

“International virtual exchange is growing at many institutions around the world in efforts to increase opportunities for students to engage in meaningful cross-cultural experiences,” said Kim Marsella, associate director for the Center for International Education. “It is particularly important for populations who may not have the ability to participate in traditional study abroad."  

This collaborative learning experience explored the interdependent nature of environmental, social, and cultural systems, and what will be needed as a global community to achieve the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. 

Students were charged with mindfully reflecting on their sustainable worldview and challenging those ideas as they learned more throughout the residency. They participated in activities ranging from discussion forums and virtual games to analyzing case studies and presenting potential solutions. 

“This course underscored the interconnectivity of all the issues that need to be addressed, but also showed how complex and dynamic the ‘solutions’ are,” said Empire State University student Molly Bingham. “Starting small is still starting, and if we all band together, great change is possible. This class has inspired me to become more active in my community as well as with my daily practices.” 

“Residencies have always been a transformative learning experience for SUNY Empire students and faculty,” said Associate Professor Kevin Woo. “It provides an opportunity for us to gather in a safe space and share ideas from both personal and global perspectives.” 

SUNY Empire previously received two State Department grants from the U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic to help support the development and implementation of these virtual exchange activities with UNAPEC. SUNY Empire Lecturer Lorette Pellettiere-Calix and Associate Professor Linda Jones were principal investigators on the grants, and Jones was the lead faculty for the Fall 2023 virtual residency.