International collaboration boosted by education scholar’s visit to UCalgary

A leading expert in virtual exchange and international education visited the University of Calgary’s Werklund School of Education, inspiring faculty and students to expand global learning initiatives across campus. 

Dr. Robert O’Dowd, a professor at the University of León in Spain and a recognized authority in Virtual Exchange, spent a week engaging with UCalgary’s academic community. Virtual Exchange (VE) is an educational approach that uses online communication technologies to connect students from different parts of the world. Through collaborative tasks and projects, it aims to enhance learners’ foreign language skills, digital literacy, and intercultural competence. 

Dr. O’Dowd’s visit included a series of workshops, mentoring sessions, and strategic meetings aimed at strengthening the university’s VE initiatives. 

The visit was supported by the UCalgary Visiting Scholars Program and the Werklund School of Education.

“Visiting scholars like Dr. O’Dowd play a vital role in enriching our academic environment,” says Buffy St-Amand, Senior Director, International. “They bring fresh perspectives, share global best practices, and help foster a culture of innovation and collaboration. 

"These visits not only support faculty development and curriculum enhancement, but also create valuable opportunities for students to engage with international thought leaders. Ultimately, they strengthen our global partnerships and contribute to the university’s mission of preparing students for success in an interconnected world.”

Virtual Exchange enables International collaboration 

A highlight of the visit, in January, was a hybrid workshop led by O’Dowd, which drew participants from across campus. The session focused on integrating VE into post-secondary education, a model that allows students to collaborate internationally without leaving their home institutions.

O’Dowd also delivered an impactful discussion as part of Werklund’s monthly International Advisory Committee talk series and held one-on-one mentoring sessions with faculty and graduate students involved in Werklund’s Global Classroom initiatives.

“There is quite a lot of work being done at Calgary already in this area,” said O’Dowd. “I was very impressed by the offer of seed funding to support the integration of VE. It’s an excellent way to promote innovation in teaching.” 

The seed funding mentioned by O’Dowd is offered specifically through the Werklund School of Education to support its faculty in developing Global Classroom initiatives. 

UCalgary grants support ongoing collaboration 

The visit has already sparked plans for future collaboration. Dr. Roswita Dressler, Associate Dean – International at Werklund, will travel to Spain in June to explore further partnerships with the University of León. Discussions are underway around student mobility opportunities and potential European grant funding.

“Dr. O’Dowd is the most recognizable name in Virtual Exchange,” said Dressler. “It was an amazing privilege to host him and to see the enthusiastic response from our campus community.”

Werklund is also promoting four internal grants to support Global Classrooms during the 2025–26 academic year, enabling students to engage in intercultural learning while completing their coursework at home.

O’Dowd encouraged educators to embrace VE as both a teaching tool and a form of professional development. “The best thing is to simply do it and learn from the experience,” he said. 

“Educators will see that VE is not only valuable for students but also helps teachers grow their own international networks and intercultural skills.”