Faculty Perspectives on how to Reimagine International Research for Students in a Virtual World

Board 369: Reimagining International Research for Students in a Virtual World

“…During the first phase of the project, we conducted eight focus groups with over 40 U.S.-based faculty principal investigators (PIs) who had experience running these programs to understand the benefits, challenges, and future potential of incorporating virtual elements into international research programs for students (note: refer to [7] for a complete description of this phase of the project). Invited PIs led National Science Foundation-funded IRES or PIRE programs that had begun in the 2010-2019 date range.…”

“…Third, future ideas for international research programs, identified brainstorms around innovative hybrid models for international research as well as ways to provide more support for international collaborators, the lack of which is a common policy critique of these programs by the PIs. As we describe in [7] and our poster will highlight, virtual components to such international programs can provide some new-found flexibility and offer a lower barrier of entry to international engagement for students from a variety of backgrounds. However, PIs widely agreed that virtual components should not replace in-person international experiences.…”