Is it safe enough to be brave?

This qualitative study aimed to discover what students need for a positive learning experience on an international online platform. An elective international online course created by two social work schools, in Israel and Germany, was followed by an online questionnaire using SoSci Survey. The findings of a three-stage qualitative content analysis indicated that a safe space was generated throughout the course but that no brave space was created, because students avoided stressful issues. The study contributes to ISW educators worldwide by highlighting the need to create international safe spaces for students, but that these need not always be brave spaces, which might hinder students’ ability to study.