Reimagining Global Citizenship: Challenging Inequities Through International Exchange Programs for Central Asian Students

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 11:40 am Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Global and Comparative Perspectives in Higher Education (Table 10)

Abstract

This presentation examines the role of international exchange programs in addressing systemic inequities within higher education by fostering global citizenship among Central Asian students in the U.S. Using the UNITED program as a case study, this research investigates how short-term exchange initiatives can disrupt entrenched power dynamics, enhance cross-cultural understanding, and promote cognitive, social, and identity development. The study explores how these programs interact with societal and cultural contexts to facilitate transformative learning experiences that challenge existing systems, structures, and ideologies sustaining inequities. By engaging with diverse perspectives and addressing social and political injustices, international exchange programs contribute to reconstructing more equitable and inclusive educational environments.

Authors

• David J. Roof, Ball State University

• Rachel L. Geesa, Ball State University