Dear Team 4 members,
‘No Submission’ syndrome has struck your team again this week (unfortunately). Your assigned team member for this week too, did not send in the post as yet. I don’t know how to express in words but the picture embedded below translates my current emotions quite well.
Anyways, for this week, you will read and comment on the post titled “Online Program Connects Students Across Cultural and National Borders”. Read this post here and then come back to this very page to record your comments.
– Muhammad Adil Arshad
Think, Analyze & Share 
I think that this is a very good initiative especially in terms of online education as it broadens the spectrum of communication among students belonging to different cultures and backgrounds. Each and everyone of us have a different view and different paradigm about other countries and media also portrays a very different story for example muslims are mostly taken to be terrorists in international scenario which really is not true . If students all over the world go to USA or Europe for studies then why not western students come to middle eastern and Asian universities ? Just Because there is a lack of awareness and not all university programs are properly advertised and somewhat political scenarios shown in news.
And i think this forum (soliya) is actually bridging this difference and helping students by having various discussions which is really a productive thing. I don’t think educational institutions or even society takes in note that what do students themselves want ? or what exactly do they think ? and this platform helps them discuss what do they want.
And this is like a global community of students where they can talk and discuss regardless of any social or political pressure and they can share their different experiences as well.
So yes in the current scenario and the changing world we do need this virtual exchange program as majority of the students want to leave and study in international universities especially at masters and PHD levels.
Online platforms that efficiently serve the same purpose and substitute for “student-exchange programs” are surely a great innovation which save up, both on money and travel hassle – yet give easy interactive access to people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
“Connect” and similar programs built to narrow the gap between students worldwide can actually encompass a broader paradigm – that of resolving misconceptions and inculcating peace between the Islamic countries and the West, as suggested by the following paragraph in the article:
“Marwa Elsayed, a political-science major at the private Future University says the online discussion was “the first time I talked to a Jewish person about Israel-Palestine. It was a very decent conversation.”
Such technological advancements will definitely take global serenity and progress to a whole new horizon!
Although we already have access to countries and cultures foreign to us through the internet this somehow seems a bit less useful as we can access the same knowledge, if not through websites then social networking sites do come to our with our foreign friends letting us in whats happening on their side of the world.However, the virtual exchange program still provides other oppurtunities to save time and money which is awesome all on its own. Its almost like a free foreign education program (some fees are still included).
This program (soliya) is very effective to bridge the gap of different people from all over the world. it’s give you a opportunity to talk with different students of different cultural context. moreover, you can directly communicate to other students and remove the barriers of miscommunication. i think it’s a wonderful initiative, it will enhance the learning by communicating with other part of the world.
“Online Program” is very productive through which you can prepare your students to solve global problems. “Connect “is one of online program which is affordable and time saving. It is useful platform where the students exchange their tradition and it is helpful program to know the culture of other societies. It connects eastern and westerns countries and by having video conferences and discussions the student come to know others values and traditions. I think by creating these programs we can keep peace in the world.
As long as this program is only about sharing knowledge and perspectives I am okay with it. But if educationists suggest that it should replace the formal educational system just because it is feasible and it works like a charm for overseas students than I think we will be in trouble. If connecting people globally is the reason then I think we already are using such “programs” (Twitter, Facebook etc.)