There are many reasons why Virtual Exchange is a valuable practice for participants. These include:
An interdependent world
We live in a world which is increasingly interdependent. We need effective communication and collaboration across cultures in order to tackle pressing global issues such as climate change, inequalities, discrimination, gender-based violence and displacement.
By having people work online with peers from other countries, we gain fresh perspectives on these challenges and discover innovative solutions.
Global knowledge society
In a ‘global knowledge society’ people need intercultural competencies to thrive. These skills enhance employability and help individuals navigate diverse cultural contexts. VE enables people to embrace diversity and understand cultural differences, improving their ability to collaborate in multicultural teams.
Limitations of physical mobility
There are many reasons why people may not be able to physically travel abroad. These could include financial cost, caring responsibilities, disability, or a desire to live more sustainably. VE offers another way of providing people with an international, intercultural experience.
The importance of finding your ‘why’
These benefits are not just for the participants. In my conversations with VE teachers, I found that they also develop these skills, as the act of organising and running the exchange deeply immerses them in their own international and intercultural collaboration.
However, it is important to remember that your participants will have the benefit of you supporting them, whilst you (and hopefully a colleague or two!) will need to navigate this experience mostly on your own. Do not underestimate how difficult it can be and ensure that you have your own reason ‘why’ before you embark on a VE project.
Here are some common motivations from the people I spoke with:
- A deep personal interest in finding out more about other countries and cultures
- A love of travel (yes, VE is virtual, but it can involve travel if that’s what you enjoy and you can fund it
- Wanting to develop a relationship with an existing connection in the partner country
- A desire to learn a new language or develop existing language skills
So… have a think. Why do you want to do this?
Some of the text on this page has been adapted from the ‘Training in Virtual Exchange’ course developed by the EVOLVE Team. The full course is available under a CC-BY-NC-SA license.
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