Virtual Exchange (VE) is an online alternative to international travel. 

Participants take part in online people-to-people activities through which they are immersed in the culture of another country. They work collaboratively with people who are geographically distant and culturally different to themselves, developing intercultural skills.

VEs most commonly take place in education settings - schools, colleges and universities - where small groups of students are guided through collaborative activities by a trained facilitator. 

There are many benefits associated with VE, including:

Developing mutual understanding between citizens of different countries.

The confidence and skills required to creatively and critically use digital technologies.

The ability to live and work in diverse cultural contexts.

Types of VE

VE refers to a set of practices rather than one specific model which can be applied in any given situation. In addition, every exchange project has its own characteristics and dynamics. One common element, however, is that students from different geographical regions and/or cultural backgrounds work together online on tasks with the support of educators or facilitators.