Connecting Fulbright and UniCEN: Developing International Learning Experiences in Global Environment and a Sustainable Goals Project

Abstract

We are pleased to present results of the recent research study completed by the graduate students of American State University located in Kansas and their counterparts from the Central Asian State Institution from Kirgizstan through February-May, 2022. The study was a part of the UniCen Spring COIL Initiative funded by the by the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and American Councils for International Education. The core purpose of UniCen virtual collaborations focuses on establishing substantive international engagement between higher education institutions in the U.S. and Central Asian regions. The suggested research topics in 2022 offered to jointly address five United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) such as: clean water and sanitation; affordable clean energy; decent work and economic growth; responsible consumption and production; and climate action. The present study has focused on the fourth goal: responsible consumption and production. Sixteen international graduate students from the U.S. institution and six candidates from Kirgizstan had been combined into five groups where they worked on chosen topics using Zoom in a variety of formats. As a final step of their collaborations, five YouTube videos with reported findings had been produced by each team accordingly. There is no doubt that a such stimulating learning experience was new for all participants. The most challenges were caused by student diverse perspectives on the same topics, a significant time zone difference between Kansas, U.S. and Kirgizstan, substantial cultural variances and mental models. The present report focuses on the most significant dilemmas faced by the students when working on complicated topics in international teams.