Kristina Katsos from AUS selected as Global Champion by Aspen Institute’s Stevens Initiative

AUS instructor recognised for innovative projects in the field of global virtual student exchange and learning

Kristina Katsos, Senior Instructor in the Department of International Studies at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) College of Arts and Sciences, was recently selected as a Global Champion for the Aspen Institute’s first-ever Stevens Initiative for global leaders in the fields of education and exchange. Katsos was nominated to be one of 29 Global Champions and selected through a competitive process.

The Stevens Initiative is a leading player in global virtual exchange, dedicated to promoting and expanding virtual learning opportunities for young people globally. This year marks the launch of its new Global Champions initiative, bringing together individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the field.

"I was honored and delighted to receive the news of this great recognition of the hard work myself and my fellow colleagues across the globe have been doing. I have always been excited about the potential of virtual technology to redefine education. As technology continues to evolve, the opportunities for deeper, more immersive cross-cultural collaborations are expanding rapidly. I believe these types of global student exchanges will help create generations of more open, globally aware students who will ultimately build a more inclusive and empathetic world," said Katsos.

The Global Champions will collaborate with the Stevens Initiative to champion virtual exchange programs, share innovative best practices and inspire novel methods for connecting young people and educators across diverse cultures.

“We take deep pride in our efforts to bring virtual exchange to thousands of young people globally, but none of it would be possible without the countless partners who share our belief in the transformative power of dialogue and discovery. We deeply value the pivotal role our champions have played in our journey. I am thrilled to formalize their support, which will be instrumental in expanding the reach and impact of virtual exchange,” said Christine Shiau, Executive Director of the Stevens Initiative.

Katsos recently completed the Transformative Sustainability Project (TSP), a large-scale virtual exchange program engaging nearly 1,500 students and 16 faculty pairs across four universities in the UAE and the USA over the past two years. The project aimed to integrate the UN Sustainable Development Goals into the curricula at AUS and the other participating institutions. 

Mariam Kilani, an international studies student at AUS had the opportunity to participate in the TSP project and study environmental sociology in collaboration with peers in Dickinson College in the USA. 

“Accommodating different ideas was something that really helped me. Most of us in the class share core ideas about topics that we may have learned about the environment we grew up in and so seeing them from a different perspective was quite an eye-opener,” said Kilani.

Looking to the future, Katsos plans to keep developing partnerships with institutions interested in virtual exchange opportunities and focusing on her research, which explores emerging technologies in education. She recently published a peer-reviewed paper titled, “Does Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Enhance Social Capital? Identity and Social Capital Formation among Students in the USA and UAE.”

Additionally, Katsos plans to focus on researching and promoting ways to engage students on the topic of sustainability and the role of energy in international relations, a topic she teaches at AUS.

To learn more about the College of Arts and Sciences at AUS, and explore its international studies degree programs, visit www.aus.edu/cas.