Jha delivers inaugural “Zoom In” for Central CHRIE



Jha delivers inaugural “Zoom In” for Central CHRIE

14 Oct 2019    

Dipra Jha, associate professor of practice and director of global engagement, delivered the inaugural “Zoom In” for the Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education, Central Federation on September 27, 2019. The monthly webinar is focused around teaching, research, and industry and attended by hospitality, tourism, events, business, and food service faculty as well as industry professionals from around the world. Jha presented on “Engaging Students through Virtual Exchange” in which he highlighted the benefits of using distance learning technology to deliver high-quality classroom experiences for students.

Jha is a member of UNL’s Global Virtual Classrooms faculty cohort. The program is supported by a competitive grant from the Office of Global Strategies. His “Three Countries; One Classroom” collaborative online international learning (COIL) project in partnership with The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management in Dubai, UAE, and Oman Tourism College in Muscat, Oman was recently shortlisted for the prestigious GITEX Awards. GITEX is the largest technology expo for Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Additional support for the project was provided through a CEHS Technology Innovation Grant.

“Professor Jha’s presentation was a great way to kick off our member engagement events. His presentation showed how even small schools can reap the benefits of international educational opportunities for students and faculty,” said Chris Woodruff, President of Central CHRIE and Hospitality Management Program Chair at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, MI. “The innovations Professor Jha shared in his presentation can provide long term benefits for Hospitality education and bring a truly global industry full circle by providing the future leaders of the industry once in a lifetime learning opportunities.”

This fall, Jha’s global virtual classroom includes students and faculty from Denmark, India, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and three universities in the Ukraine. He is a recipient of several teaching awards, including UNL’s Distinguished Teaching Award and the John Wiley & Sons Innovation in Teaching Award from the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (ICHRIE).


College of Education and Human Sciences
Hospitality, Restaurant and Tourism Management