Preventing Student Echo Chambers Through Facilitated Virtual Exchange
The American University of Sharjah (AUS) is an independent, non-profit, coeducational institution of higher education formed on the American liberal arts model. It was founded in 1997 by Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah and a member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates. The university has been offering the Connect Program since 2006.
In April 2021, AUS students and faculty spoke with Soliya team members Salma, Nahid, Asma, and Tyler about their virtual exchange experience. The interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
Vernon Pedersen, Professor of History and Head of International Studies Department, American University of Sharjah
I've made it possible for our faculty to provide the Connect Program to their students. From their point of view, the integration has been seamless. Soliya offers time-saving support to the faculty so they can focus on their instruction where they are most needed. They are pleased that they don't have to be involved in the logistics or constantly troubleshooting, and have been particularly happy with how smooth the technology works.
The faculty also appreciate the way that Soliya facilitators take charge of students. The facilitated nature of the dialogue in the Connect Program is really important. If not for it, students would lose track, they would get emotional, or the class would turn into a Twitter war. After her initial pilot, Dr. Sara Farhan, one of our implementing faculty, expressed that her students thought the Connect Program was one of the coolest things about the class.
Many people in the world today and particularly in this country grow up with stereotypes of other countries as evil because of past things they've done or because of foreign policy over the years. It's important to meet the people of these countries to see that they don't have horns and they're regular human beings.
Virtual exchange is important for the same reason as a physical exchange program: Young people need to broaden their horizons. They need to meet people who do not agree with them and do not share their experiences. Many people in the world today and particularly in this country grow up with stereotypes of other countries as evil because of past things they've done or because of foreign policy over the years. It's important to meet the people of these countries to see that they don't have horns and they're regular human beings.
I'm very proud of the cosmopolitan student body we have here at AUS, but many of our students live very sheltered lives. The family structure here is much different than it is in the West, and they often stay closer to home and stay under their parents' authority much longer than American children do. In both regions, college students are living more and more in virtual echo chambers. I think it's absolutely important that they have exposure to other people with very different but very legitimate perspectives.
“Students thought the Connect Program was one of the coolest things about the class.”
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