Fostering Global Collaboration and Innovation through Project-Based Learning

Abstract

This paper explores the effectiveness of global collaborative project-based learning (PBL) where students from four different global higher institutions worked together to develop an online game centred on internationalization linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This distinctive initiative took place over a short span of 24 hours where the students participated in the design thinking process with the different institutions transferring their ideas to the next after an 8-hour cycle. The aim of the global collaboration project was to raise awareness of global sustainability challenges while advocating global cultural awareness and understanding. Various significant findings were uncovered by means of qualitative inductive constant comparative analysis. Findings indicated the student’s overall experience with the project including their perceived benefits and challenges, as well as suggestions on how the global collaborative project-based learning project can be improved. The findings offer insight into innovative learning approaches and do not only provide students with the essential skills such as including cross cultural awareness, time management, communication, problem solving, adaptability and resilience, but also fosters cultural awareness and sensitivity, which is fundamental in solving future global challenges. This paper emphasizes the impact of global collaboration in education in developing future leaders by equipping students for practical problem-solving in a more interconnected global environment.