This document provides information about Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange, a pilot project established by the European Commission in 2018. The project aims to expand opportunities for intercultural learning experiences through technology-enabled dialogues between young people. Virtual exchanges allow participants to engage in meaningful cross-cultural discussions online as part of their education. The document outlines the target audiences, activities, models of virtual exchange including faculty-led courses, and training opportunities to support the development and facilitation of virtual exchanges.

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Erasmus+
Virtual Exchange
INTERCULTURAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Sarah Guth, President UNICollaboration
Remix: T.MacKinnon @warwicklanguage
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Join in this taster of virtual exchange
Go to:
https://bit.ly/2Mn4Yo8
Or scan this QR code:

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What is Virtual Exchange?
“Technology-enabled people-to-people dialogues
sustained over a period of time”.
● Use of new media platforms to enable deep, interactive social
learning
● Developed over 30 years from experience in the field of educational
exchange and study abroad
● Making it possible for every young person to have meaningful,
transnational and intercultural experiences.
● Prepares, deepens, and extends physical exchanges, and fuels new
demand for physical exchange.
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4. Erasmus+
What is Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange?
● Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange is a groundbreaking pilot project
established by the European Commission in 2018.
● Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange aims to expand the reach and scope of
the Erasmus+ programme through virtual exchanges by engaging at
least 17,000 youth by the end of 2019.
● This project will complement the traditional physical mobility
programme.
● An accessible, innovative way for young people in Europe and the
Southern Mediterranean to engage in meaningful intercultural
experiences online, as part of their formal or non-formal education.
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5. Erasmus+
Target Audiences
Open to any young person aged 18-30 residing in Erasmus+
programme countries and the Southern Mediterranean.
● Young people (aged 18 to 30 years)
● Youth workers
● Students
● Higher education professors
● University managers/administrators
● Educators
https://europa.eu/youth/erasmusvirtual/who-can-take-part_en
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Activities
INTERCULTURAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES
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Different models of virtual exchange
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Exchanges implemented by the consortium
● Multi-partner large-scale exchanges where young persons can
either sign up to participate directly, or more commonly enrol
through their institution
Exchanges implemented with support of the consortium
● Grassroots, smaller exchanges embedded into existing courses
by educators with support of the 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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Exchanges & Training
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Exchanges
existing Virtual Exchange programmes with
established curricula that students and youth
can participate in
Training
professional development for professors,
youth leaders and support staff to develop
their own Virtual Exchanges
Online Facilitated Dialogue Training to Develop VE Projects
Interactive Open Online Courses Facilitation Training
Debate Exchanges Training to be a Debate Team Leader

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Two or more professors from different countries connect
to add an international and intercultural dimension to
their already-existing courses

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The professors and their support
teams work together to develop:
● shared learning outcomes
● a syllabus for this new
international component
With a focus on the development
of activities that promote:
● interaction
● collaboration between
students

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● The courses are usually blended
● They last 4-10 weeks
● They have at least 1 synchronous
video session
● They can be implemented in any
subject or course

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Training Opportunities:
Learning by Doing
Basic Training: Introduction to Virtual Exchange (VE)
● Participants: anyone involved in promoting and/or implementing VE
● Topics: what is VE, models of VE, partnering in VE, Challenges in VE
● When: 4 weeks, 2-3 hours per week
Advanced Training: Collaborative VE Design
● Participants: partners who would like to develop a VE for the first time
● Topics: joint curriculum design, setting learning objectives, identifying
topics for discussion that stimulate the sharing of different perspectives,
logistics, collaborative project design
● When: 6 weeks, 3-4 hours per week
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