Using Virtual Exchange to Expand Global Competency in Criminology and Criminal Justice Education

As students prepare for careers in a global workforce, developing intercultural competence in undergraduate education has become increasingly important. In response to this growing need, virtual exchange (VE) has emerged as a promising pedagogical strategy for internationalizing the curriculum. The purpose of the current study is to examine the effectiveness of a VE project implemented in an upper-division undergraduate criminology course with the goal of increasing intercultural competency, specifically international critical thinking and international communication. Results from pre- and post-survey responses of students indicated statistically significant increases across numerous items measuring critical thinking and communication attitudes and beliefs, especially regarding areas surrounding analysis, solution finding, reasoning, and sensitivity. The findings demonstrate that the VE component of the course represented an effective pedagogical approach for promoting global learning and intercultural development in undergraduate education, and has the potential for broader adoption across universities.