Call for Papers: Special Issue on Virtual Exchange: Evidence and Analysis to Advance the Field

2021-09-15

We seek empirical and analytical contributions from researchers and educators across the world for a special issue of the Journal of International Students focused on Virtual Exchange: Evidence and Analysis to Advance the Field. We welcome submissions that employ a range of methodological approaches, explore complex realities, and provide new directions for the rapidly growing field of virtual exchange and its continually evolving models/modalities, e.g., collaborative online international learning (COIL), telecollaboration, online intercultural exchange, globally networked learning, and others. 

We are especially interested in contributions that are co-authored with individuals from multiple institutions, multiple countries, and/or represent multi-functional teams. We encourage international partners to write together and institutions to work together to share data and collaboratively produce research that marks new and significant advancements to knowledge in the field of virtual exchange.

We seek empirical submissions that include multi-institution case studies, cross-border partnerships, mutli- and interdisciplinary perspectives, and rigorous evaluations. We encourage authors to situate their research in relationship to the key terms, concepts, and types of exchanges outlined in the Virtual Exchange Typology developed by the Stevens Initiative.

  • Multi-institution case studies that explore the nature, development, (in)efficacy, and outcomes of consortia and/or multi-institutional partnerships with a focus on how partners negotiate power in the design and development in multi-stakeholder virtual exchange programs, navigating cross-cultural contexts, partner positioning, and partnership dynamics, as well as budgetary models and institutional agreements that promote scalable and sustainable virtual exchange programs. 
  • Cross-border partnerships where virtual exchange is part of larger curricular and co-curricular initiatives to promote Internationalization at Home (IaH) and Internationalization at a Distance (IaD), including those designed to address the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • Multi- and interdisciplinary perspectives from faculty who examine and evaluate the effectiveness of programs, pedagogies, and practices in multi- and interdisciplinary teaching, as well as how virtual exchange integrates with research, teaching, and service responsibilities within their discipline or field. 
  • Rigorous evaluations of learning outcomes from virtual exchange, including but not limited to digital literacies, global learning, intercultural competence, career readiness, and employment, as well as the impact of virtual exchange programs on institutional efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We also seek analytical submissions that offer constructive critiques of current typologies and frameworks – or propose new conceptual frameworks, theoretical frameworks, or typologies – in order to provide new directions for research and practice in virtual exchange. 

  • Critical analyses that analyze the (un)intended consequences of virtual exchange, colonialities of power, or minoritized perspectives in order to adapt existing models and/or open up new forms of virtual exchange that take into account ethical complexities.
  • Privacy, security, and datatification issues with virtual exchange program design, implementation, and evaluation to ensure people have agency and control over how they interact in virtual exchange environments.

Author Guidelines

This special issue will include analytic reviews of empirical research and original research studies (4,000-7,000 words including tables/figures and references). We expect selected authors to participate in rigorous peer review of two (2) submitted articles for the special issue. Peer review will consist of two peer authors (from special issue) and at least one outside reviewer who is an expert in this specific topic and/or method. Individual manuscripts submitted for publication consideration are to be in English (United States spelling) with APA 7th edition style. Selection for full manuscript submission does not constitute guarantee of publication. Only manuscripts published are those who go through peer review and revision stages and receive final acceptance for publication by guest editors.

Journal of International Students

The Journal of International Students is the most-cited journal in international education. It is indexed in major academic databases, including the Web of Science, Scopus, and Cabell’s. It is among the top-10 most cited journals in the field of higher education. You can learn more about the journal on our website at ojed.org/jis 

Important Dates

Abstract submission due October 31, 2021
Decision on abstracts November 15, 2021
Full manuscript due February 15, 2022
Peer review of articles due March 15, 2022
Revision draft due May 1, 2022
Revision drafts returned (if needed) June 1, 2022
Final drafts due July 1, 2022    
Publication September 1, 2022

How To Submit

Submission of an article abstract (300-500 words) and author information (name, title, institution, country) via this form by October 31, 2021

Submit proposal: https://forms.gle/v8rCnnLJmZ5Cao8o6 

Questions?

Questions can be directed to Dr. Chris R. Glass (chris.glass@bc.edu) at Boston College and Dr. Taylor C. Woodman (tcwood@umd.edu) at the University of Maryland.