Digital transformation of ir and un studies: Case study on youth engagement in model un new silk way
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26577/HJ.2021.v62.i4.02Abstract
The quality of teaching international relations (IR) and UN studies depends on many factors, including the anchorage and localization of educational materials through practical exercises and extracurricular activities. In this regard, Model United Nations (Model UN) programs have proven to be one of the most effective activities, inculcating youth with necessary practical skills and competencies, especially soft skills in negotiating, debating, consensus seeking, and gender and multicultural sensitivity. However, over the past few years Model UN programs have been facing challenges in developing and expanding their engagement with young people due to the need to adapt the programs to new realities including the internationalization of higher education institutions (HEIs) and the COVID-19 restrictions and closures. A key tool in introducing necessary changes and responses to the challenges is digital transformation through the incorporation of information communication technologies (ICT), digital online learning (DOL), social media, and enhancing essential digital skills.
The purpose of this article is to analyze how digital transformation impacts teaching IR and UN studies in general, and implementing Model UN programs in particular. First, it introduces the framework of this research project. Second, it discusses the educational context of developing IR and UN studies and the recent growth and expansion of Model UN programs. Third, it provides a short literature review on the empirical and theoretical aspects of digital transformation. Fourth, it presents the case study of the impact of digital transformation especially of the use of ICT on the Model UN New Silk Way over the past 10 years. The conclusion summarizes the findings of this research and discusses some implications for educational process and practices in IR and UN studies, and for the internationalization of higher education.
Keywords: Digital transformation, digital online learning, globalization, international relations, Model UN, UN studies, internationalization of education.
References
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Lacka, Ewelina, Wong, T. C., & Haddoud, Mohamed Yacine. (2021), Can digital technologies improve students' efficiency? Exploring the role of virtual learning environment and social media use in higher education. Computers & Education, Volume 163, 2021, Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131520302979 (accessed on October 11, 2021).
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Digital transformation of organizational culture under conditions of the information economy. Virtual Economics, Volume 3, n. 1, 2020, pp. 3-32.
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Al-Farabi KazNU. (2014), Model UN New Silk Way Programme. Annual Report. Almaty (Kazakhstan): Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 2014, 2015. 2016, 2018, 2019 (unpublished reports).
Al-Farabi KazNU. (2017), Strategia razvitia Kazakhskogo Natsionalnogo universiteta imeni Al Afarabi na 2017-2021 gody. [Strategy of Development of Al-Farabi KazNU 2017-2021] UNAI. Almaty (Kazakhstan): Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Press, 2017.
Al-Farabi KazNU. (2020), Al-Farabi KazNU for Shaping Common Future. Almaty (Kazakhstan): Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Press, 2020. Available at: http://unaihub.kaznu.kz/?p=2072&lang=en (accessed on April 2, 2021).
Al-Farabi KazNU. (2021), Al-Farabi KazNU Global Hub of UNAI. Almaty (Kazakhstan): Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Press, 2019. Available at: http://unaihub.kaznu.kz/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/al-Farabi-KazNU-Global-Hub-of-UNAI.pdf (accessed on May 2, 2021).
Abazov, Rafis. (2021a), Redefining global citizenship education: a case study of Kazakhstan. Journal of Philosophy, Culture and Political Science (Al-Farabi Kazakh National University), [S.l.], Volume 75, n. 1, 2021, pp. 90-99. Available at: https://bulletin-philospolit.kaznu.kz/index.php/1-pol/article/view/1235 (accessed on May 2, 2021).
Abazov, Rafis. (2021b), Engaging in the internationalization of education and SDGs: Case study on the global hub of UNAI on sustainability. E3S Web Conf., Volume 307, 2021. Available at: https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2021/83/e3sconf_dsdm2021_06001.pdf (accessed on October 12, 2021).
Chapman, D. W., Pekol, A., & Wilson, E. (2014), Cross-border university networks as a development strategy: lessons from three university networks focused on emerging pandemic threats. International Review of Education, Volume 60, 2014, pp. 619-637.
Cheng, Angel Oi Yee. (2019), Global Mission – “Glocal” Internationalization: United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) and Lehigh University. Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education, Volume 11, Spring, 2019. Available at: https://www.ojed.org/index.php/jcihe/article/view/929 (accessed on October 21, 2021).
Dementyev, V., Dalevska, N., & Kwilinski, A. (2021). Innovation and Information Aspects of the Structural Organization of the World Political and Economic Space. Virtual Economics, Volume 4, No 1, pp. 54-76. Available at: https://virtual-economics.eu/index.php/VE/article/view/103 (accessed on October 21, 2021).
El Massah, Suzanna, & Mohieldin, Mahmoud. (2020), Digital transformation and localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Ecological Economics, Volume 169, 2020. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800919303258 (accessed on October 21, 2021).
Friedman, Thomas L. (2007). The World Is Flat: The Globalized World in the Twenty-First Century. New York: Penguin, 2007
Gregersen-Hermans, Jeanine, & Lauridsen, Karen M. (eds). (2021), Internationalising Programmes in Higher Education: An Educational Development Perspective (Internationalization in Higher Education Series) 1st Edition. New York: Routledge, 2021.
Harper, Helen, & Dunkerly, Judith. (2009), Educating the world: Teachers and their work as defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Current Issues in Comparative Education, Volume 12, n. 1, 2009, pp. 56-65.
Hashim, Mohamed Ashmel Mohamed, Tlemsani, Issam, & Matthews, Robin. (2021), Higher education strategy in digital transformation. Education and Information Technologies. Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10639-021-10739-1 (accessed on October 21, 2021).
Hudzik, John K. (2014), Comprehensive Internationalization: Institutional Pathways to Success (Internationalization in Higher Education Series) 1st Edition. New York: Routledge, 2014.
Iivari, Netta, Sharma, Sumita, & Ventä-Olkkonen, Leena. (2020), Digital transformation of everyday life – How COVID-19 pandemic transformed the basic education of the young generation and why information management research should care? International Journal of Information Management. Volume 55, 2020.
Jafari-Sadeghi, Vahid, Garcia-Perez, Alexis, Candelo, Elena, & Couturier, Jerome. (2021), Exploring the impact of digital transformation on technology entrepreneurship and technological market expansion: The role of technology readiness, exploration and exploitation, Journal of Business Research, Volume 124, 2021, pp. 100-111. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296320307736 (accessed on October 11, 2021).
Jones, Sharon. (2010), Model UN and class roles: case studies in role playing and simulations for learning and engagement. The 2010 APSA Teaching & Learning Conference. February 5-7, 2010. Available at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1546091 (accessed on October 11, 2021).
Kuzhabekova, A., & Lee, Jack T. (2020), Internationalization and local research capacity strengthening: Factors affecting knowledge sharing between international and local faculty in Kazakhstan. European Education, Volume 52, n. 4, 2020, pp. 297-311.
Lacka, Ewelina, Wong, T. C., & Haddoud, Mohamed Yacine. (2021), Can digital technologies improve students' efficiency? Exploring the role of virtual learning environment and social media use in higher education. Computers & Education, Volume 163, 2021, Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131520302979 (accessed on October 11, 2021).
Levy, Brett L. M. (2016), Advising a Model United Nations club: A scaffolded youth-adult partnership to foster active participation and political engagement. Teaching and Teacher Education, Volume 59, 2016, pp. 13-27. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0742051X16300555 (accessed on October 21, 2021).
Merrill, M., Yakubova, S., & Turlanbekova, Z. (2021), Internationalizing quality assessment in Central Asia. International Higher Education, n. 64, March 2011. Available at: https://ejournals.bc.edu/index.php/ihe/article/view/8561 (accessed on May 20, 2021).
Oliveira, Katyeudo K. de S., & de Souza, Ricardo A. C. (2021), Digital transformation towards education 4.0. Informatics in Education, forthcoming.
Santos, Helena, Batista, João, & Marques, Rui Pedro. (2019), Digital transformation of higher education: The use of communication technologies by students. ScienceDirect. Procedia Computer Science. Volume 164, 2019, pp. 123-130.
Shaw, Carolyn M. (2020), The Unexpected Gift: “Oh, and you’ll be responsible for the Model UN program.” In: Pedagogical Journeys through World Politics (Ed. Jamie Frueh). New York: Palgrave, 2020. Available at: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-20305-4 (accessed on October 21, 2021).
Trushkina, Nataliia, Abazov, Rafis, Rynkevych, Natalia, & Bakhautdinova, Guzelya. (2020),
Digital transformation of organizational culture under conditions of the information economy. Virtual Economics, Volume 3, n. 1, 2020, pp. 3-32.
UNAI. (2020), About UNAI. n.d. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/page/about-unai (accessed on May 2, 2021).
UNAI. (2011), The United Nations Academic Impact Is Informed by a Commitment to Support and Advance Ten Basic Principles (2011). Available at: http://unaihub.kaznu.kz/?page_id=15&lang=en (accessed on May 2, 2021).
UNDESA (2020), 2020 United Nations E-Government Survey. New York: UNDESA, 2020. Available at: https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/Portals/egovkb/Documents/un/2020-Survey/2020%20UN%20E-Government%20Survey%20(Full%20Report).pdf (accessed on December 2, 2021).
UNDESA (2021), Kazakhstan: e-governance data. Available at: https://publicadministration.un.org/egovkb/en-us/Data/Country-Information/id/87-Kazakhstan (accessed on December 2, 2021).
Van Dijck, José. (2013), The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of Social Media. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2013.
Zain, Sayeda. (2021), Digital transformation trends in education. In: Chandos Digital Information Review, Future Directions in Digital Information (ed. David Baker, Lucy Ellis). Chandos Publishing, 2021, pp. 223-234. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128221440000367 (accessed on October 21, 2021).
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Abazov, R. (2021). Digital transformation of ir and un studies: Case study on youth engagement in model un new silk way. Herald of Journalism, 62(4), 14–24. https://doi.org/10.26577/HJ.2021.v62.i4.02
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Journalism: Society. Language. History. Policy. Law. Economy.
