Opportunities to Increase Cross-Cultural Instruction: Impacts of a Distance Learning Course About U.S. Philanthropy Taught to Chinese Students

Authors

  • William Cleveland Indiana University
  • Lijun He Indiana University

Keywords:

distance learning, cross-cultural reflection, intercultural, philanthropy, nonprofit management education

Abstract

Education focusing on philanthropy and nonprofit management is growing rapidly around the world. Countries such as China present a substantial need to cultivate professionals for the nonprofit sector due to the growth of philanthropic giving and the need for better organizational management. With the majority of academic study and instruction about philanthropy and nonprofit management based in the United States, how can these resources be leveraged to educate students around the world? This case study of a course taught through distance learning by an American located in Indiana to students in Zhuhai, China, presents one method for universities to increase their global reach. The course had explicit goals of measuring student learning, assessing distance learning effectiveness, and understanding the impacts of this cross-cultural learning experience. Despite some disappointment with the distance learning implementation, students learned course material, improved their English, and connected aspects of U.S. philanthropy with the situation in China.

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Published

2015-03-26

Issue

Section

Articles