Pan-African Virtual College (PAVC): Bridging African and American higher education through virtual innovation

• In Event: Impact on internationalization for the public good in community colleges and polytechnics

Proposal

Introduction
This presentation examines the Pan-African Virtual College (PAVC), a pioneering transnational collaborative project launched by the US African American Male Education Network and Development (A²MEND) organization in partnership with Ghanaian higher education institutions and supported by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. The PAVC students will be from Ghana and from California taking on-line courses that have are part of the California general education program but altered to include the Ghana faculty perspectives Each course will be internationalized to be grounded in African-centered and African-adjacent pedagogy. In addition, virtual and in-person mobility options will connect students and faculty with one another.

Conceptual Frameworks
Built on the belief that education should transcend borders, the PAVC serves as a model for cross-cultural learning, dual enrollment, and international collaboration. Centering on student achievement, the international program facilitates active, collaborative, and reflective learning, wherein learning occurs collaboratively through social interactions among students and with facilitator support (Chapdelaine & Toomer, 2021). PAVC exemplifies globalization in higher education by creating a transcontinental academic ecosystem that fosters cross-cultural exchange, equitable access, and the integration of diverse worldviews into virtual teaching and learning. (da Silva et al., 2023).

Context
PAVC is designed to foster equitable, accessible, and culturally relevant education across continents, while connecting students and faculty from California and Ghana through a dynamic virtual learning environment grounded in African-centered and African-adjacent pedagogy. The internationalization project addresses components central to community colleges around the world, including academic access and cultural exchange (Boateng & Nyarko, 2019). Courses are curated not only for academic rigor but for their alignment with African-centered pedagogical principles. Hybrid Virtual Mobility programs will bring students together to share and learn from each other.

Methodology
The panelists use a case study methodology to share the development of this program and plans for the future.

Preliminary Findings
There are two preliminary findings. PAVC is a bidirectional faculty collaboration model. Ghanaian faculty will teach courses at California community colleges, bringing African cultural perspectives into American classrooms. California faculty will deliver online and in-person instruction to Ghanaian students, enabling transnational course delivery. These virtual exchanges create an ethical learning environment rich in diverse perspectives and decolonial pedagogical approaches. Second, the learning experience is transformative. Students gain access to international faculty, dual-credit opportunities, cultural competence development, and degree attainment with a global dimension. For faculty, it provides cross-cultural exchange, exposure to diverse educational systems, and opportunities for collaborative scholarship.

Relevance to CIES Conference Theme and Globalization and Education SIG
This proposal responds to the conference theme by exploring how hybrid virtual mobility and internationalization of the curriculum can shape student and faculty experiences and be a catalyst for ongoing reform. In the community college context, efforts are made to ensure that international education is accessible and inclusive for a wide array of students.

Conclusion
Community College internationalization is enhancing the global learning experiences of both domestic and international students, making international education more accessible and inclusive. The PAVC reshapes what inclusive international education can look like.

Authors

• Gina Browne, California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office

• Edward Bush, Cosumnes River College