1st Edition
Internationalising Higher Education and the Role of Virtual Exchange
This volume introduces Virtual Exchange (VE) as an innovative form of online intercultural learning and investigates the myriad of ways VE is being carried out across universities, ultimately arguing for its integration into university internationalisation policies and course curricula.
Against the backdrop of increased digitalisation initiatives throughout universities given the effects of the pandemic, chapters focus not only on providing new research findings, but also on providing a comprehensive introduction and argumentation for the use of VE in university education and also in demonstrating how it can be put into use by both university decision-makers and educators. Reviewing the limitations of the activity, this timely work also fundamentally posits how VE and blended mobility more broadly could be developed in future higher education initiatives.
This book will be of interest to researchers, academics, scholars, and students involved with Open & Distance Education and eLearning, approaches to internationalisation in education, and the study of higher education more broadly. Those interested in innovative methods for teaching and learning, as well as educational research, will also benefit from this volume.
1. Introduction. 2. Definitions and origins of Virtual Exchange. 3. University internationalisation and developing global citizenship. 4. An overview of approaches to Virtual Exchange. 5. Impact and learning outcomes of Virtual Exchange. 6. Towards an effective methodology of Virtual Exchange. 7. The role of international offices in Virtual Exchange. 8. Looking to the future of Virtual Exchange in university education.
Biography
Robert O'Dowd is Associate Professor in the Department of Modern Languages at the University of León, Spain.
"Robert O'Dwod is one of the pioneer advocates and scholars of virtual exchange. In this book he provides a valuable introduction and overview of the important role of virtual exchange in the internationalisation of higher education."
Hans de Wit, Distinguished Fellow and Professor Emeritus, Boston College Center for International Higher Education
"This incredibly accessible and well-researched volume provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of virtual exchange and its possible applications as a form of internationalisation at home. It targets a wide range of stakeholders including teachers, international relations staff and educational decision makers and will no doubt be an invaluable resource."
Francesca Helm, University of Padova, Italy
