Virtual Exchange and Blended Mobility for Sustainability:
An Introductory Course for University Educators
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What is Virtual Exchange?
Virtual exchange (VE), also commonly referred to as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), is a term used to describe different approaches to engaging students in online intercultural collaboration projects with partners from different countries within their programmes of study and under the guidance of teachers. Virtual Exchange has become a popular way for teachers across all subject areas to internationalise their classrooms and to give their students first-hand experience of intercultural communication and using their digital skills.
What is Blended Mobility?
Blended mobility is the combination of both physical mobility and structured online collaboration. In other words, blended mobility programmes combine the engagement of students in online activities and collaboration with teachers and students from other countries on their subject area with the opportunity to travel to one of the partner universities to work together at the same location. The current Erasmus+ programme (2021-2027) promotes a form of blended mobility called “Blended Intensive Programmes”. These involve short periods of physical with a virtual component facilitating collaborative online learning exchange and teamwork.