Cross-cultural collaboration through virtual teaming in higher education

Scholars from three universities in different parts of the world – North America, Africa, and Eurasia across differentcultures, disciplines, contexts, collaborated with objective advancing transversal skills intercultural competences through immersing their students international virtual teamwork. Students lecturers represented Appalachian State University (United States America), Free (South Africa), Novgorod (Russia). In this article, we share our lessons learned challenges faced hopes deepening understanding higher education concerning what can be accomplished remote learning continents cultures. This work allowed us to ahead collapse traditional teaching on campuses caused by COVID-19 pandemic, as had prior experience online pedagogies reaching borders, cultures, timezones, languages. Even during hard lockdown, when travelling abroad was impossible, experienced internationalised curricula, interacted scholars staff, were able continue programme planned. We began more than five years pandemic; therefore, these efforts led successfully switching other courses. engaging staff members well ongoing, project-based collaboration cultures institutions. required use synchronous asynchronous digital platforms, which would enable collaboratively for six eight weeks create realistic projects. Staff compile collaborative co-creating courses that taught together, thus combining adapting various pedagogical approaches. then shared responsibility co-facilitating each course, despite philosophies learning. The result a balanced blend pedagogies, allowing collaborate universities. overcame number challenges: (a) cultural differences; (b) infrastructure technology platforms; (c) time zones; (d) languages; (e) age generational (f) unfamiliarity pedagogies; (g) interaction settings; (h) stereotypes fuelled popular media. journey strategies addressed challenges, including results continued collaboration.