Of dreams, dialogue, and light for a divided world: Interviewing Prof. Robert O'Dowd
- Admin
- Oct 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 5
As a longtime passionate advocate and a pioneer of cross-cultural #virtualexchanges, it was a true honour and a pleasure to accomplish a dream. As editor-in-chief of #Iatefl #LTsig newsletter, I got the amazing opportunity to talk to Prof. Robert O'Dowd (see the About section below), who is a leading figure in COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) and Blended Mobility, and in the field of science in the world! I have followed and admired his work for years!!!! He has forever been a source of learning and inspiration to me. Therefore, I am so grateful he accepted my invitation to share his expertise with IATEFL LTsig members! He really is such a generous scholar and kind person!
This time a special #multimodal innovative and inclusive issue of the newsletter was put together and recently published, which allowed for this kind of format (a video) to be included along others. The interview can be found at the bottom of this page or in the September 2025 newsletter if you are an LTsig member. Don't miss this invaluable contribution on such an important topic!
What's in the interview?
These are the questions Prof. O'Dowd elaborates on in the interview:
What is virtual exchange, and how can it help promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in language learning in today's educational context?
How can VE/COIL projects be designed to foster deep, sustainable intercultural understanding rather than superficial exchanges? What are your basic recommendations for integrating virtual exchanges into language education? Which strategies have been found as most effective in building long-term, sustainable partnerships between institutions through COIL?
Can you share an example where a VE/COIL project led to lasting cross-cultural collaboration or change, either at the student or institutional level?
On a very personal note:
I have always believed #intercultural skills are an integral part of #English teaching and learning, and I strongly believe they must be included in the agenda of any educator preparing learners to thrive not only for an interconnected world beyond the classroom walls but also for life within their own community. More than ever, we need to foster interculturality, empathy, #dialogue. For those of us who have been labouring wholeheartedly and tirelessly to do this for long, the recent years of increasing fragmentation and blind hatred have been especially hard and disheartening. They seem to have lethally undermined so much of what took years to build!!!! However, as long as there are educators like Robert and so many others that believe in this cause, we may still be able to spread seeds of dialogue and educate future generations to hopefully a less divided world in the future. One person at a time. One class at a time. Two classes conversing, collaborating, and learning together.
We cannot give in to the forces of evil that will continue to exist no matter what... Evil does exist- We have seen its face! So does hatred. Those of us who believe in dialogue need to be the light that will bring at least a ray of hope to this battered and chaotic world! This is what sustainability- the central theme of this issue- is about.
About Prof. Robert O'Dowd
Robert O'Dowd is full professor for English Studies at the Universidad de León, Spain. He has taught at universities in Ireland, Germany and Spain. He has published extensively on the application of Virtual Exchange in Higher Education and has coordinated 3 Erasmus+ projects, including the European Policy Experiment ‘Virtual Innovation and Support Networks for Teachers’ (VALIANT) (2021-2024). He collaborates with organisations on the promotion and integration of Virtual Exchange in Higher Education and his most recent book is Internationalising Higher Education and the Role of Virtual Exchange (2023, Routledge). He was recently listed in Stanford University’s ‘Ranking of the World Scientists: World´s Top 2% Scientists’.
Resources for virtual exchange and blended mobility
The following list was compiled by Prof. Robert O'Dowd. I am honoured to have my the handbook and the position paper I crafted as COIL consultant for Kibbutzim College of Education to be featured in it.
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