DIGEST - Volume 10, Issue 1

17 TPC Digest Szu-Yu Chen, Dareen Basma, Jennie Ju, Kok-Mun Ng Opportunities and Challenges of Multicultural and International Online Education T he growth in distance learning has led to an integration of technology in the curriculum over the past two decades. Counselor educators now can deliver distance learning courses internationally via videoconference systems, such as two-way audio and video software programs, for students to attend classes either synchronously or asynchronously, and many programs are moving toward distance education. This shift in educational platforms allows both domestic and international students to receive counselor education and training remotely without having to commute or leave their home countries. However, to date, there seems to be a lack of attention in the literature to how online training programs can address global students’ multicultural and social justice counseling competencies given their non-traditional mode of learning delivery. Moreover, with the emphasis on the helping relationship in the counseling profession, online instructors encounter additional challenges because of a lack of in-person contact with students and may feel skeptical about the effectiveness of creating a safe and interactive space virtually, especially in relation to addressing challenging and complex topics. Promoting global students’ multicultural and social justice counseling competencies in distance education requires thoughtful teaching strategies. Therefore, this article discusses pedagogical strategies that we have found valuable to enhancing and assessing global learners’ multicultural and social justice counseling competencies. With the movement toward internationalizing the counseling profession, we postulate that multicultural counseling distance education must extend beyond U.S. borders, class meetings, and the curriculum. It is critical that counselor educators provide multicultural and social justice counseling competencies training through systemic modeling by internationalizing the curriculum and training environment and collaborating with training programs and institutions to advocate for, attend to, and support the needs of globally diverse students in distance education. Using a master’s-level multicultural counseling course as an example, we propose that instructors use an intersectional and social construction online pedagogy in which instructors focus on students’ examinations of social locations concerning global privilege and oppression. This approach can also provide global students with a critical framework for analyzing structural power and oppression, examining the complexity of identities, and discussing action plans for empowerment and advocacy. It can further cultivate an inclusive global learning environment. We also discuss recommendations for creating a safe virtual learning environment such as establishing virtual classroom ground rules, using chat boxes as an option for students to express their thoughts and feelings, and attending to students’ nonverbal communications. To support global students’ needs and enhance the retention of students in online counseling programs, we further share innovative approaches counselor educators and institutions can incorporate outside of the virtual classroom, including online multiculturally oriented student services, online student-centered multiculturally based organizations and workshops, and dedicated office hours for mentoring online international students. Finally, we provide recommendations for future research to enhance multicultural and international distance counselor education. Szu-Yu Chen, PhD, NCC, LPC, RPT, is an assistant professor at Palo Alto University. Dareen Basma, PhD, LPC-MHSP, is a core faculty member at Palo Alto University. Jennie Ju, PhD, LPC, is a core faculty member at Palo Alto University. Kok-Mun Ng, PhD, NCC, ACS, LPC, is a professor at Oregon State University. Correspondence can be mailed to Szu-Yu Chen, 1791 Arastradero Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94304, dchen@paloaltou.edu. 17 | TPC Digest