Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge is a virtual exchange initiative that supports workforce development in the U.S., Iraq, and Jordan.

Community college and university students from the U.S. and technical college and university students from Iraq and Jordan come together to solve global challenges in their communities. The program improves global citizenship, strengthens problem-solving skills, and develops enduring connections, while enhancing students’ job skills through online collaboration.

Global Solutions is supported by the Stevens Initiative, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and is administered by the Aspen Institute. It is also supported by the Bezos Family Foundation and the governments of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.

Academic partners: Al-Balqa Applied University, Ammon Applied University College of Hospitality & Tourism, Beaufort County Community College, Central Georgia Technical College, Davidson Davie Community College, Duhok Polytechnic University / Technical College of Administration, Erbil Polytechnic University, Estrella Mountain Community College, Gordon State College, Highline College, Hillsborough Community College, Kapiolani Community College, Kauai Community College, Khawarizmi University Technical College, Kirkwood Community College, Komar University of Science and Technology, Lebanese French University, Lone Star College, Luminus Technical College University, Miami Dade College, Middle East University, Monroe Community College, Porterville College, Riverside City College, Rockland Community College, Salahaddin University, Soran University, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, The City University of New York (CUNY), University of Duhok, University of Garmian, University of Kurdistan Halwer, University of North Carolina in Greensboro, University of San Francisco

• 90% of MENA students and 77% of the US Students expressed the program was beneficial for their future career.
• 92% of MENA students and 76% of US students expressed the program strengthened their leadership skills.
• 88% of MENA students and 79% of US students increased confidence with technology tools for virtual collaboration.
• 89% of MENA students and 87% of US students strengthened cross cultural communication skills.
• 75% of MENA students and 64% of US students positively changed pre-existing stereotypes.

Four objectives support the Global Solutions goal for students: 

1. Improve global citizenship by demonstrating that one’s responsibility and humanity transcends beyond borders; 

2. Strengthen problem solving skills; 

3. Develop cross-cultural collaboration and competency; 

4. Develop job readiness skills through online collaboration. 

Four objectives support the Global Solutions goal for facilitators: 

1. Develop and improve facilitator’s skills in supporting innovation and global citizenship for their students; 

2. Strengthen student’s technical and non-technical workforce development skills; 

3. Develop enduring connections between diverse colleges in the US, Jordan, and Iraq based on classroom content and meaningful collaboration; 

4. Increase community excitement and investment in cross-cultural communication and business-related education for youth. 

• Facilitator training workshop: Participating faculty from community colleges and universities in the U.S. and colleges and universities in Jordan and Iraq learn how to facilitate the challenge’s curriculum. Faculty receive training on inclusive teaching strategies, design thinking, cross-cultural collaboration, and technology.
• Binational virtual competition: Facilitators put together gender-balanced teams to pair up with their binational partner over a 8-week period. Each team is guided by the provided curriculum to create a sustainable solution to their selected sustainability problem, inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Teams work together to research, brainstorm, design, test, and pitch their innovative solution.
• Global Solutions curriculum: IREX developed a curriculum that teaches students to innovate and solve problems, and also facilitates connections between people of different backgrounds. Teams collaborate over the course of a design challenge to create solutions to real-world problems. The curriculum has both  synchronous and asynchronous activities that take place online in real-time as well as away from the computer. All activities prompt regular sharing and ideation between binational partners.
• Virtual Global Business Expo Binational teams from the United States and Jordan or the United States and Iraq create innovative solutions as part of the Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge. Solutions are displayed at the Virtual Global Business Expo and Career Fair. Explore previous cohort's top innovations »

• Series of Binational Calls: Through a six-week virtual exchange series consisting of six binational calls, students will practice cross cultural collaboration and learn about each other’s culture as they engage in the process of design thinking and discuss global issues in their community. Individual teams will brainstorm a community project idea to support increased sustainability in their local communities. Scripts are provided to guide facilitators and students through each binational call. No additional work is required outside the binational calls.   

The Stevens Initiative is an international leader in virtual exchange, which brings young people from diverse places together to collaborate and connect through everyday technology. Created in 2015 as a lasting tribute to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, the Initiative invests in virtual exchange programs between the U.S. and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); shares research, resources, and promising practices to improve impact; and advocates for broader adoption. Through its 86 grants, the Stevens Initiative will expand its reach by summer 2023 to nearly 75,000 young people in 17 MENA countries and the Palestinian Territories, and in 48 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, one tribal community, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C. Learn more: http://www.stevensinitiative.org/

E-mail: globalsolutions@irex.org