An odyssey of virtual global team activity in the experiential learning environment of the Global Enterprise Experience (GEE)

Abstract What challenges present themselves in the virtual team experiential learning environment for students and educators? More so, have these challenges morphed over time? This paper outlines a longitudinal content analysis of student experiences in an experiential learning activity (2007–2016). The Global Enterprise Experience (GEE) is designed to support integrated learning for business content and global competencies, including leadership skills, in a global virtual team (GVT) context. Students, in teams comprising eight diverse members, engage to achieve the development of a business plan. They, themselves, determine their use of communication technologies. This longitudinal study explores the challenges comprising a learner's experiences and, in so doing, implicitly explores the educator's role within a student-focussed approach. It contributes to literature focussing on the development of individuals' GVT competences, characterising the experience of this learning space. In this way, it offers pragmatic insight to educators regarding how to direct efforts to support learning. It concludes with suggestions for future research.