Harper College's Virtual Exchange Connects Students Globally

Program allows Chicago-area students to collaborate with learners from around the world

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Harper College's Virtual Exchange program uses technology to connect Chicago-area students with learners from around the world. More than 1,000 students have participated in the program since it began in 2021, working on collaborative projects and building intercultural communication skills.

Why it matters

The Virtual Exchange program allows students who may not have the opportunity to study abroad to still gain global perspectives and experience working with peers from different cultures. It helps prepare students for future careers by developing skills like communication, problem-solving, and cross-cultural collaboration.

The details

Through the program, Harper students connect with students studying to teach English at Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas in Chiapas, Mexico. They work together on projects and presentations that explore societal challenges in both the U.S. and Mexico. The program is part of Harper's newly created Center for Global Education and Engagement, which aims to bring the world to the college's classrooms.

  • The Virtual Exchange program began at Harper College in 2021.
  • More than 1,000 students have participated in the program since it started.

The players

Austin Brenke

A 22-year-old Elk Grove Village resident who re-enrolled at Harper College and participated in the Virtual Exchange program as part of his English 101 course.

Dr. Richard Johnson

The director of Harper's Center for Global Education and Engagement, who brought the Virtual Exchange program to the college with the goal of allowing students to study abroad virtually and expose them to global perspectives.

Kim Jaeger

A Harper professor who co-teaches the Intercultural Dialogue and Exchange English 101 and First Year Seminar cohort, and also teaches German and English as a Second Language.

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What they’re saying

“If you're able to clearly communicate with people from another country, that gives you access to another market in a sense. It definitely helps with time management, too, because everybody has to be able to plan and coordinate.”

— Austin Brenke (harpercollege.edu)

“What I want to do as director of the Center for Global Education and Engagement is bring the world to our classrooms. Technology proves to be a really powerful tool to make that happen. The way we've been able to connect with students in a half-dozen countries across time zones and continents has proven to be really powerful.”

— Dr. Richard Johnson, Director, Center for Global Education and Engagement (harpercollege.edu)

“It's really important for students to understand and interact with other cultures in appropriate ways.”

— Kim Jaeger, Professor (harpercollege.edu)

What’s next

Harper College plans to continue expanding the Virtual Exchange program to reach more students and connect them with peers around the world.

The takeaway

Harper's Virtual Exchange program is using technology to provide students who may not have the opportunity to study abroad with valuable global experiences and skills that will benefit them in their future careers.