The Connect Express is a cross-cultural education program that enables college students from the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to connect, establish a deeper understanding for the perspectives of others around the world, engage in an exploration of your identity and how it impacts your engagement with others in your personal context and the context of the digital world, and develop critical 21st century skills.
Each student is placed in a different online group with approximately ten students from around the world, and each group will meet online once a week for two hours via a videoconferencing platform for 4 weeks in the month of November. During the weekly sessions, students will meet with your peers, share their opinions, and hear their groupmates’ perspectives about critical issues that are important to them. Topics covered during the Program typically include, but are not limited to: identity, culture and stereotypes, global challenges, life experiences and worldviews, and youth empowerment. Through their participation in the Program, students will develop and / or improve upon skills such as leadership, critical analysis, cross-cultural communication, collaborative problem-solving, and engaging with differences constructively.
Students who successfully complete the Connect Program will receive the Connect Program Certificate of Participation, attesting to the skills and experiences gained through your participation.