Case Study: Global Classroom, Local Impact:

Leveraging International Partnerships for Transformative Student Experiences

Abstract

This case study examines an innovative international collaboration that transcends traditional educational boundaries through authentic industry engagement and meaningful cultural exchange. Dr Onur Dursun, Dr Emma Mulliner, and Dr Neema Opiyo created a transformative learning experience for 48 Level 6 and 7 Civil Engineering students by leveraging established relationships with Denver University and major international construction companies. The project demonstrates how authentic professional experiences, combined with genuine cultural exchange and systematic boundary-breaking, can create educational innovations that fundamentally challenge how higher education is organised. While financial constraints limit immediate scalability, the approach offers a compelling model for assessment design that prioritises real-world relevance, global perspective, and systemic change over traditional academic structures.