Sarah Munro ’09, Guilford’s Director of Global and Off-Campus Initiatives, has been selected to participate in an international program that will help the College design and facilitate virtual student exchanges.

The Virtual Exchange Academy is a six-week-long, certificate training program offered by the Stevens Institute, an international effort to build global competence and career readiness skills for students in the United States, the Middle East and North Africa.

Sarah is one of about 50 participants selected to participate in the academy through a competitive international application process.

The Virtual Exchange Academy focuses on institutions of higher education where the student population does not have much experience in going abroad. Sarah says a minority-serving institution like Guilford has many students who can benefit from a virtual study abroad program before deciding if they want to take part in one of Guilford’s study abroad courses.

“I have a lot of students who have never left the state come to me and ask about study abroad and away opportunities,” says Sarah. “A virtual exchange will allow them to expand their horizons without even leaving the campus. If they need to build that confidence or comfort level, they’ll have that ability to become engaged with these different programs.”

Sarah will attend two-hour weekly synchronous training sessions with small groups of other participants from around the world and complete a series of readings, video training instruction, quizzes, online activities and asynchronous discussions. After completing the program, participants have access to an alumni network and Stevens Initiative resources and support going forward.

“I think the Virtual Exchange Academy will give me the skills and some of the background to create and develop opportunities for our students and network with others who are creating opportunities around the world in which I can collaborate with them and have Guilford students participate,” she says.