Bridging Academic and Industry Skills via Digital Collaboration

Abstract

As culturally responsive, social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies continue being essential skills in a 21st century workforce, both university and industry will continue placing greater focus on effective training for students and employees to strengthen workforce readiness. The following chapter introduces one example of how Polish Fulbright scholars prepared for a U.S. assignment through a digital training program, taken before participants departed their home country, as a way to support post arrival integration, safety, and success in the U.S. Compared to the control group, research findings from this phenomenological research study indicated that the four-week training program supported increases in self-awareness and self-management skills, social skills and cultural awareness, English communication skills, academic and professional readiness skills, and responsible decision-making skills in the treatment group. This study contributes one new strategy to strengthen internationalization efforts, global leadership skills, and cross-cultural relations.