Best Practices to Effectively Engage Diverse Participants in Virtual Exchange Programming

With over 20 years of experience in designing and implementing impactful programs, Soliya has found that virtual exchange programming has unparalleled potential to expand access to global learning opportunities for all students. It also helps address barriers, creating greater access for youth in underrepresented and underserved communities.

Soliya’s Post-Exchange Surveys

In feedback collected through post-exchange surveys from Soliya’s participants in the 2022-2023 academic year, we found that:

87% of participants felt that they BELONGED in the program

88% felt VALUED by the other young people in the program

89% felt INCLUDED in all aspects of the program

1. Engage partners and institutional champions:

    • Begin by building an understanding of the breadth of diversity factors that exist within the communities you seek to engage.

    • Then seek out partnerships with institutions that serve those communities.

    • Focusing recruitment efforts on institutional partners —rather than individuals —allows for a better understanding of the broader opportunities and challenges in different communities.

    • Diversifying the partners you engage, allows the exchange experience be more inclusive and multi-voiced.

  • Who will lead the partnership and the implementation of the program at the partner institution?

    The common traits:

    Passion for and an understanding of diversity, with the capacity to engage stakeholders.

2. Build capacity and support educators across the globe:

    • Understand the needs of the educators and students and engage educators around how the program can help meet their goals.

    • Support them in building incentive structures that will help them engage their students.

    • Develop customizable materials aimed at orienting students around the program, with an emphasis on what they will gain and why it is important to their learning.

    • Some students in underserved communities might lack information about available opportunities. This will also help educators prepare students for your program.

    • Engage champions at one or more partners in building a community of practitioners.

    • Thus educators can share their experiences, exchange best practices, and learn from each other.

3. Design inclusive programming:

    • Ensure that your platform accommodates different abilities and learning styles.

    • Having tools such as automatic transcription built in or using platforms that are compatible with assistive devices greatly expands access to students who may not be able to engage in virtual programs.

    • How can you create an inclusive space for students?

    • Which topics will you choose to highlight?

    • Which activities would build the capacity to be respectful?

    • Facilitators can ensure all students have an opportunity to share their perspectives and be heard.

    • Facilitators can support students' ability to dig deeper into the dialogue and address power dynamics constructively.

To explore the best practices for effectively engaging diverse participants in virtual exchange programming in more detail, feel free to read the following article by Nahid Ahmed:

Best Practices to Effectively Engage Diverse Participants in Virtual Exchange Programming