Feasibility study of an internet-based virtual cultural exchange programme : Asian, North American and European university students

Abstract

There is still little knowledge about informal virtual cultural exchange programs deploying social media as an internet-based communication platform among students from different disciplines. This study aimed to address this research gap by examining the effect of a four-week theory-driven WhatsApp-based virtual cultural exchange program titled “Internationalization-at-Home” (IaH) among university students from three continents. A repeated-measure design was adopted. 60 university students from Canada (North America), Hong Kong (Asia) and Italy (Europe) were recruited from February to March 2021, with 20 students from each site. Participants from different sites were paired up to experience informal intercultural interaction through WhatsApp interaction. The results showed that IaH reduced the apprehension about intercultural communication. Furthermore, the high attendance and retention rate, together with the general satisfaction demonstrated the acceptance of the IaH. These findings demonstrate significant implications for global applications as they highlight the potential of virtual cultural exchange to alleviate fear and anxiety, thereby facilitating intercultural communication. This study also provides evidence supporting the widespread adoption of similar initiatives worldwide in the post-COVID-19 era.