Invited presentation at CZEDUCON2022, International Conference on Strategy and Policy in Higher Education, November 2022 Prague. An official event of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union. https://czeducon.cz/

1. Virtual Exchange
Successfully connecting top-down policies with
bottom-up initiatives
Sake Jager
Researcher / Project manager teaching and learning innovation
University of Groningen, Netherlands

2. What is Virtual Exchange?

3. Some examples

4. Abel, N. (2022, November)
Angel, C.& Schreiber, A. (2022, October)
Negrete, A.L.J. & Pachajoa, T. (2022, October)
Bowen, K. & Alami, N. (2022, October)

5. Virtual Exchange: Definition
Virtual Exchange (VE) is a practice, supported by research, that consists of sustained,
technology-enabled, people-to-people education programmes or activities in which
constructive communication and interaction takes place between individuals or groups
who are geographically separated and/or from different cultural backgrounds, with the
support of educators or facilitators. Virtual Exchange combines the deep impact of
intercultural dialogue and exchange with the broad reach of digital technology.
https://evolve-erasmus.eu/about-evolve/what-is-virtual-exchange/
Near synonyms:
• Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)
• Telecollaboration
• Global Virtual Teams
• Online Intercultural Exchange

6. VE on the axis of Digitalisation and Internationalisation
Digitalisationt Internationalisation
Virtual
Exchange

7. European Policy Context

8. Digital Education Action Plan 2021-27
• Long-term strategic vision for high-quality,
inclusive, accessible European digital education
• Priorities:
• Development of high-performing ecosystem
• Improvement digital skills and competences
• Stronger cooperation at European level and
cross-sector collaboration
• More and better teaching in digital technologies;
support and infrastructure for digitalisation
teaching and learning
• Digital literacy and access to computers and
networks for all
• European Digital Education Hub
European Digital Education Hub
https://education.ec.europa.eu/focus-topics/digital-education/digital-education-action-plan

9. Erasmus+ Programme 2021-2027
Key action 1: Learning mobility for individuals
• expose students to different views, knowledge, teaching and
research methods as well as work practices in their study field in the
European and international context;
• develop their transversal skills such as communication skills, language
skills, critical thinking, problem solving, intercultural skills and research
skills;
• develop their forward looking skills, such as digital and green skills, that
will enable them to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow;
• facilitate personal development such as the ability to adapt to new
situations and self-confidence.
Blended mobility:
• Opportunities for all students
• Flexible mobility formats
• Enhance learning outcomes of physical mobility
Blended mobility is a combination of physical mobility with a virtual
component facilitating a collaborative online learning exchange and
teamwork. For example, the virtual component can bring learners
together online from different countries and study fields to follow
online courses or work collectively and simultaneously on
assignments that are recognised as part of their studies.
https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/

10. Digital Education
 Before 2019:
 Most online learning: asynchronous, Learning
Management Systems
 Time and place independent, flexible
 Effective for content-based learning
 During Covid-19:
 Teaching methods not adapted
 Synchronous, videoconferencing, breakout groups
 Social aspect missing
 Post-Covid-19:
 Blended learning: face-to-face on campus and online
combined
 Hybrid learning: pedagogically and organisationally
challenging
 Yet uncertain which courses and programmes will be
open at a distance to international students
“However, most instructors did not adapt their teaching methods to
accommodate individual students learning alone. Most used
video-conferencing for the delivery of synchronous lectures…. In
other words, best practices in online learning developed over the
previous 20 years were ignored or not applied”
https://pressbooks.pub/teachinginadigitalagev3m/

11. Internationalisation
Internationalisation-at-Home: “purposeful integration of international
and intercultural dimensions into the formal and informal curriculum for all
students within domestic learning environments”
Beelen, J. & Jones, E. (2015)
Global learning:
 United Nations
 Global issues and problems
 Challenge-based, collaborative learning
 SDGs
“Non-mobile” forms of internationalisation,
previously largely on campus / at school
Beelen, J. & Doscher, S. (2022)

12. Evidence Base Virtual Exchange

13. Target VE learning outcomes
Largely overlap with Erasmus+ Action 1 objectives:
 Familiarisation with different views, knowledge, teaching and
research methods and work practices;
 Transversal skills: communication skills, language skills, critical
thinking, problem solving, intercultural skills and research skills;
 Forward looking skills, digital and green skills for tackling challenges
of today and tomorrow;
 Personal development: ability to adapt and self-confidence.
Integrated with learning outcomes specific to the
discipline

14. Stevens Initiative and Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange
 Large-scale studies
 Focus on US and Europe with
North-Africa and Middle East
 Gains in:
 Stevens:
 Knowledge of other
 Perspective taking
 Cross-cultural collaboration, etc.
 E+VE
 Communication
 Knowledge/interest global
events
 Knowledge across societies, etc.
 Positive student / teacher
testimonies
 Skills targeted attained
https://www.stevensinitiative.org/resource/2022-virtual-exchange-impact-and-learning-report/
https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2797/870428

15. EVOLVE Project
Key factors competence development and appreciation
 Opportunities for sustained, meaningful
collaboration
 Appropriate task design
 Integration in curriculum
 Reciprocity and autonomy
 Mentoring and support by teachers
 Adequate collaboration and communication tools
EVOLVE Project team (2020)

16. Critical aspects of implementation

17. Pedagogical process
 Team teaching across
borders / disciplines
 Project-based group work
 Social, experiental learning
 Joint outcome
 Reflection on process
 Embedded in teachers’ ‘own’
courses
 Teachers responsible for
‘own’ students
 IaH online
https://online.suny.edu/introtocoil/suny-coil-what-is/

18. Virtual Mobility vs Virtual Exchange
R. O’Dowd (forthcoming)

19. Embedding in curriculum
Example of European BA-programme
 International cohorts
 IaH on campus
 Extracurricular
 Language learning
 Intercultural competence
 Mobility window
 Physical mobility
 Virtual mobility
 Virtual Exchange
 Across modules
 Across levels
 Flexible and scalable
 Teacher-led

20. Digitalisation
Tools
 Standardisation as norm
 Virtual Exchange
 Partner tools
 Third-party tools
 Use by non-enrolled students
 Tool selection part of design process
Competence
 Assess and select tools
 Virtual Exchange
 Creativity and experimentation
 Springboard new technologies
 Lever of OER
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC128415

21. Implications for strategy and policy
1. Relate VE to internationalisation, inclusion, diversity,
accessibility, sustainability
2. Connect international office, curriculum
development, technology
3. Acknowledge, encourage, support practitioners
4. Combine options for IaH to provide flexible learning
paths
5. Chart and evaluate use for quality and sustainability
6. Facilitate use and support of non-standard
technologies (incl GDPR, licences)

22. Virtual International Collaboration initiative
Funding programme Min of Education, Culture, Science NL
Funding VIS projects
▪ 2021-2024
▪ 700 VIS projects
▪ 15,000 € per project for:
− Time release
− Coordination
− Support
▪ Two application rounds annually
National training and support hub
▪ Website
(https://www.visinhetho.nl/)
▪ Training programme for teachers &
support staff
▪ Advice to management & policy
makers
▪ Monthly drop-in sessions
▪ VIS-à-VIS Meetings and Annual VIS-
event

23. IVEC2022 Presentation
(https://iveconference.org/):
Creating a CampusCulture for Innovation
with VE/COILPrograms
Brenda Ivonne García Portillo, Universidad de
Monterreypost it shape
Annette Richie, SUNY Albany
Jóse Luis Jimenez, Andrés Bello Catholic University
Veronica Onorevole, American Council on Education

24. Thank you
for your attention.
Sake Jager
University of Groningen
https://www.rug.nl/staff/s.jager
s.jager@rug.nl

25. References and resources

26. References
Abel, N. (2022,November). Kulturbrücke Groningen-Oldenburg.Paper presented at Dutch national VIS-event, Utrecht.
Angel, C.& Schreiber, A. (2022,October).Communication through Culture - Challenging the Curator´s Perspective. Paper presented at the
International Virtual Exchange Conference 2022, Valencia, Spain.
Beelen, J. & Jones, E. (2015).Redefining internationalization at home. In A. Curai, L. Matei, R. Pricopie, J. Salmi, & P. Scott (Eds.), The European
higher education area: Between critical reflections and future policies (pp. 67– 80). Springer.
Beelen, J. & Doscher, S. (2022).Situating COIL Virtual Exchange within Concepts of Internationalization. In J. Rubin & S. Guth (Eds.), The Guide to
COIL Virtual Exchange: Implementing,Growing, and Sustaining Collaborative Online International Learning (pp. 32-54).Stylus Publishing LLC.
Bowen, K. & Alami, N. (2022,October). Virtual reality in syrian refugee camps: Collaborative learning in virtual exchange. Paper presented at the
International Virtual Exchange Conference 2022, Valencia, Spain.
EVOLVE Project Team (2020).The Impact of Virtual Exchange on Student Learning in Higher Education: EVOLVE Project Report.
http://hdl.handle.net/11370/d69d9923-8a9c-4b37-91c6-326ebbd14f17.
García Portillo, B.I. & Richie, A. & Jimenez, J.L. & Onorevole, V. (2022,October). Creating a Campus Culture for Innovation with VE/COIL Programs.
Paper presented at the International Virtual Exchange Conference 2022,Valencia, Spain.
Jager, S. (2022).Online International Education: The Case for Virtual Exchange. Think Piece #6. In series ACA Think Pieces: Digitalisation in
International Higher Education. Academic Cooperation Association, Brussels. https://aca-secretariat.be/post_other_pub/34232-2-
2/?yearPub=2022
Negrete, A.L.J. & Pachajoa, T. (2022, October). Design of a sensory cabin with the aim of making users aware of climate protection using
augmented reality. Paper presented at the International Virtual Exchange Conference 2022,Valencia, Spain.
O’Dowd, R. (forthcoming). Internationalising Higher Education and the Role of Virtual Exchange. Routledge.

27. Resources on Virtual Exchange and Internationalisation
Selection of European projects:
● EVOLVE: https://www.evolve-erasmus.eu
● NICE: https://www.nice-eu.org/
● VALIANT:https://valiantproject.eu/
● Global Case Study Challenge:
https://www.globalcasestudychallenge.com/
● GO-DIJIP:https://amplifier.w.uib.no/go-dijip/
● FRAMES: https://frames-project.eu/
● PENSA: https://pensa.univ-amu.fr/
● VAMOS: https://vamos-erasmus.eu/
● InternationalVirtual Exchange Conference
(IVEC):https://iveconference.org/
National and European Funding:
● Germany: IVAC (International Virtual Academic
Collaboration)
● Netherlands:VIS (Virtual InternationalCollaboration),
project website:https://www.visinhetho.nl)
● EU:
● Virtual Exchange with Western Balkans
● Virtual Exchanges with other specific regions in the world
● Blended Intensive Programmes

28. Resources on Virtual Exchange and Internationalisation
Organisations supporting VE (training,
resources):
 SUNY COIL Center: coil.suny.edu
 Stevens Initiative: www.stevensinitiative.org
 UNICollaboration: www.unicollaboration.org
 Soliya: www.soliya.net
 Sharing Perspectives:
sharingperspectivesfoundation.com
Resources for International Relations Officers:
 Stevens Initiative:
https://www.stevensinitiative.org/resource/guide-for-
sios/
 Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange:
europa.eu/youth/sites/default/files/eyp/eve/attachme
nts/eve_-_handbook_for_iros_1.pdf
 Forum Education Abroad:
forumea.org/resources/guidelines/virtual-exchanges-
and-global-learning-online
 COIL VE Directory: https://coilconnect.org/

29. COIL Connect (coilconnect.org)