UNIMED General Assembly 2018

1. 1
UNIMED
Ca’ Foscari, Venice, Italy
25 October 2018
Erasmus+
Virtual Exchange
INTERCULTURAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES

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What is Virtual Exchange?

3. What is Virtual Exchange?
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virtual exchange is defined as
"technology-enabled, people-to-people
education programmes, sustained over a
period of time" in which communication and
interaction takes place between individuals
or groups who are geographically
separated, with the support of facilitators
and/or educators.

4. Different models of virtual exchange
Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange into two categories:
➔ Implemented by the consortium
Multi-partner large-scale exchanges where young persons can either
sign up to participate directly, or enrol through their institution
➔ Implemented with support of the consortium: Grassroots, smaller
exchanges implemented by educators with support of consortium and
facilitators, after being trained.
Formats, length, time investment, thematic scope or number of
participants differ while they all adhere to the key components of virtual
exchange.
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5. Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange
Training
● For educators to develop
their own virtual exchanges
● To become Erasmus+
facilitators
● To become debate leaders
Virtual Exchanges
● Online Facilitated Dialogue
● Bi- or trilateral small-scale
exchanges
● Interactive Open Online
Courses
● Debates
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7. Training to Develop
Transnational Virtual Exchange Projects
France-Czech Republic Chemistry and Physics-Business
Tunisia-France English as a Foreign Language
France-Spain English - Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Germany - Finland - Czech Republic - Ireland Business and Management – Global Virtual Teams
Italy-Libya History
Spain-Poland Computer Science and Gaming-Business and
Management
Palestine-Netherlands English as a Foreign Langauge - Journalism
Spain-Poland Business & Economics - English for Specific
Purposes

8. 1 March 2018 Introduction to COIL, Sarah Guth 8

9. Why is virtual
exchange important
for universities?

10. 1. Interdependent world
• The world is increasingly interdependent and there is an
urgent need to develop a deeper understanding of this
interdependency and to address major global challenges
through multilateral and intercultural collaboration

11. 2. Global ‘knowledge society’
• Intercultural, international and global competencies are required
for employability in the global ‘knowledge society’. There is also
a need for greater attention to notions such as critical global
citizenship and civic engagement.
“The seven top characteristics of success at Google are all soft
skills: being a good coach; communicating and listening well;
possessing insights into others (including others different values
and points of view); having empathy toward and being supportive
of one’s colleagues; being a good critical thinker and problem
solver; and being able to make connections across complex
ideas.”
Washington Post, 2017

12. 3. student mobility has limited reach
• Even if funding for student mobility is increased, its reach
is limited. Over 90% of students do NOT experience
mobility, for a series of reasons.

13. So what does virtual exchange offer?
• Experiential & collaborative student learning
• Enhances learning by engaging with course content through their own
and the other’s unique cultural lenses
• Develops transversal skills such as:
• intercultural awareness
• online intercultural communicative competence
• digital literacies
• working effectively in virtual teams
• Offers opportunities to build diverse personal relationships
• Better prepares them for work and civil engagement in a global context
• Encourages students who never thought of study abroad to do so

14. Stories of Virtual Exchanges
Syrine Ayachi (Erasmus + Virtual Exchange alumni, Tunisia, 22 years old)
“We all know that young people are the future leaders. So, if we help them through the virtual
exchange to become more open-minded and give them the opportunity to see the world through
new eyes away from the propaganda, we can have a better, more peaceful world”.
Learning from the experience
● Skills : Active listening, critical thinking, asking good questions, open-
mindedness
● Different cultures : their religion, traditional food, marriage, major festivals in
each country, values
● Global issues : Poverty, Women rights, educational system, the negative
effect of social media, immigration
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15. What did you learn through Virtual Exchange?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkM1pxTd_fw

16. Advantages for educators
• Professional development
• Basics in online teaching and student-centred teaching
• Co-teaching with an international colleague
• Development of Intercultural awareness and communication skills
• Implement new pedagogic approach
• Internationalise the curriculum
• Learn new things from colleagues
• Research opportunity
I gained new perspectives from my international partner from the outset, as well as
confidence in my own approach toward my students at our institution.
I am more convinced than ever that, with proper institutional and technical support,
these collaborations are invaluable for students and instructors around the world.
The best thing about the training was the synchronous sessions ( being in different
countries with different persons at the same moment ) making, thereby the impossible
true!

17. Advantages of VE for the university
• Offer a ‘portfolio of virtual exchange projects’ that support
internationalisation at home – and abroad
• Greater student interest in Erasmus mobility programmes
• Prepares students and staff for mobility and intercultural
experience
• Offers an international experience to students who do not go for
mobility, at a lower cost
• Fosters development of students’ transversal skills and
employability
• Can support the creation of strategic inter-institutional agreements
and strengthen already existing joint degree programmes

18. Important times for virtual exchange

19. Engagement so far
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20. Impact
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23. Recognition: Open Badges
• Recognition of transversal 21st century skills that are acquired
through participation in Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange activities.
• Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange has developed an ecology of
badges.
• Importance of endorsement.

24. The Hub
https://europa.eu/youth/erasmusvirtual_en
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25. Thank You
Any questions?
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