The AFS Global Up Team recently participated in the International Virtual Exchange Consortium (IVEC) 2024 conference. During the event, which featured the power of virtual exchange, AFS presented on two key topics:
- Assessing the Intercultural Impact of Virtual Exchange: Our research explored the effectiveness of virtual exchange programs in fostering intercultural understanding and competence, particularly among young people.
- Empowering Young Global Citizens: We showcased our successful Global Up Americas program, which has connected thousands of young people across the Americas through virtual exchange.
AFS Director of Global Education Innovation, Linda Stuart joined a roundtable on Scaling Virtual Exchange which included colleagues from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Michigan State University and the University of Leeds, and was moderated by Brenda Garcia, University of Monterrey .
The roundtable participants pondered, “What are the key institutional strategies and leadership commitments essential for scaling Virtual Exchange (VE) and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) programs, and how can they be integrated into long-term educational goals?” They also explored how universities and institutions can develop and sustain the necessary infrastructure, resources, and faculty development programs to support VE/COIL expansion across various disciplines so that it doesn’t represent one-off options or lack resources for longevity.
It was clear that not everyone has adopted VE/COIL though most audience members were advocates and believed in the power of intentional online experiences to effectively overcome obstacles for everyone to have global learning opportunities Lastly, there was consensus in the room that research is critical to demonstrate the impact of VE/COIL on student learning, particularly in developing global competence, which can be measured and used to drive further program growth. See the latest AFS study on this topic here.
We are proud to embrace the power of Virtual Exchange and excited to be part of a strong community of advocates, institutions and professionals that are fostering VE education around the world. We left the event inspired with the notion that the future of VE is exciting, inclusive, full of opportunities and clearly here to stay.