Ambassadors Portal

Welcome, Interactive Open Online Course Ambassadors!

Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange Interactive Open Online Course Ambassadors are expert alumni, promoting iOOCs from their own experiences, providing support and bringing new opportunities of Virtual Exchange to organizations and youth participants.

As an ambassador, your role is to support and expand the next generation of participants because as alumna yourselves, you come to this role with invaluable experience which you can share with your peers. After all, you understand the challenges and questions that new participants will have and can explain it to them in a way that is relatable. 

Ambassadors undertake a number of tasks which will earn you an Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange iOOC Ambassadors Digital Badge.  These tasks fall under 5 categories (or elements). Check below for more information about the badge and how to earn it.

Meet-ups

You are invited to join the online iOOC Ambassador meet-ups on ar regular basis. They will be used to exchange ideas and strategies for the Ambassador role, explain guidelines and the badge requirements or provide skill-building activities. You are strongly encouraged to attend these meetings in order to support the achievement of each element.

See the introductory presentation from the first meet-up her:  Ambassador Meeting – What are iOOCs and how to promote them_ 2020

Stay connected

Join the iOOC Ambassadors closed Facebook group to get reminders about meet-ups, get connected to your fellow ambassadors and receive requests/tips from the staff of Sharing Perspectives Foundation. Request to join us here.

iOOC Ambassador Badge

Upon completion of specified activities and meeting the criteria, you are eligible to receive an Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange Open Badge. Open Badges have been developed to recognise participation in Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange activities. A digital badge certifies that you have achieved certain competencies and skills. The value of this badge is not only in the contribution to the next generation of participants but also to the development of your transversal/employment skills. 

The Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange iOOC Ambassador Badge is composed of 5 elements: Connection; Promotion; Events; Student Support; Research.

To be awarded this European Commission validated digital badge you will need to complete the task(s) from at least 4 out of the 5 elements. All details about these elements, how to complete the tasks and when can be found on this webpage; just click on each of the elements below and carefully read the information there.

 

iOOC Ambassador Portfolio

Your Ambassador Portfolio is a place to record the progress on each of the five elements: 1. Connection, 2. Promotion, 3. Events, 4. Support and 5. Research. Each element requires you to carry out a task and then to record the evidence in the portfolio.  We asses if you completed all tasks through your submission(s) through this form. Have a look at the PORTFOLIO FORM here to see what is required for each element and see the details below.

Tips: 

  • You should submit ‘evidence’ for your portfolio each time you complete an element. 
  • You can submit the sections in any order (you don’t have to start with 1). 
  • The first time you submit the form, a link saying ‘Edit Response’ will be shown. Please copy the link and save somewhere you will have access to. Every time you want to upload your portfolio, use this link so you can continue filling in the same form. 
  • All the media-based evidence should be stored in a cloud service and then shared in the form through a link.

The deadline for completing the portfolio is 30 June 2020. 

GO TO YOUR PORTFOLIO FORM >>>

1. Connection

Connect us with at least one new potential partner. This can be a university professor, youth worker or other professional that can offer Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange to young people.

You do this by sending connecting emails between the potential partner and Senior Partnerships Officer Dr. Sophie Millner: sophie@sharingperspectivesfoundation.com 

Here are email templates to help. You can also use any information or materials from the resources section on this webpage. 

 

Deadlines

  • 24 February for ‘Cultural Encounters: perspectives on Populism’
  • 4 May for ‘Countering Hate Speech’,
  • 30 June for ‘Cultural Encounters (fall iteration)’

Assessment

Make sure to complete the section ‘Connection’  and submit the required materials in the PORTFOLIO FORM here >>>

2. Promotion

Promote the courses for future participants.
**This category has 2 tasks that both need to be completed. **


2.1 Circulate promotional material 

You can share and circulate the promotional materials we provide through your social media networks, or put up posters around your university, youth organisations or in your community.

There are several ways of doing this. You can share posts from the Sharing perspectives Foundation’s social media, or create your own posts. You can use all the materials under ‘Resources’ further down this webpage.

 

Deadlines

  • 16 February for ‘Technology and Society’. 
  • 24 February for ‘Cultural Encounters: perspectives on Populism’ 
  • 4 May for ‘Countering Hate Speech’,
  • 30 June for ‘Cultural Encounters (fall iteration)’ 

 

Assessment

Make sure to complete the section ‘Promotion  and submit the required materials in the PORTFOLIO FORM here >>>


2.2 Testimonial

Submit a testimonial of your own experience in one of the iOOCs. You can do this through completing this testimonial form here >

Completing this form could also mean you will be featured on the official Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange hub! 

Instead of a written testimonial, you can also choose to be creative and record a short video. Please introduce yourself, what course you took part in, what it was like, what you have gained, if you would like others to also participate and why.

Deadline 

  • 30 June

Assessment

Make sure to complete the section ‘Promotion’  and submit the required materials in the PORTFOLIO FORM here >>>

3. Events

Engage in at least one event as an ambassador providing information about the courses.

**You can choose one of the following activities to complete this task**

 

3.1 Arrange or join a Q&A session

Together with your professor or youth leader, set up a Q&A session where you can share your experiences and answer questions (in time for new students to register).

 

Deadlines

  • 24 February for ‘Cultural Encounters: perspectives on Populism’ 
  • 4 May for ‘Countering Hate Speech’,

3.2 Host a local event  

Host an event within your university, (youth) organization, or in your community, where you can present iOOCs to students, professors or other young people.

Or organize a reunion for the iOOC alumni in your institution or city, and invite prospective participants to join. This is also a great opportunity to meet other alumni and network in person.

Deadline

  • 30 June

3.3 Attend an external event

Present iOOCs at a conference or event. This might also be done virtually, via webcam.


Deadline

  • 30 June

Assessment

Make sure to complete the section ‘Events’  and submit the required materials in the PORTFOLIO FORM here >>>

 

4. Support

Provide support to participants that are taking an iOOC.
You can choose from one of these activities:

 

4.1 Host a participant meet-up

Once a course has started, host an informal ‘coffee’ meetings giving participants a space to share and reflect. 

Organize a virtual meetup during or prior one of the courses for participants to join, ask questions, get support.

 

Deadlines – Do this between: 

  • 23 February  – 5 April for ‘Technology and Society’
  • 9 March – 17 May for ‘Cultural Encounters
  • 18 May – 19 June for  Countering Hate Speech

 Assessment

Make sure to complete the section ‘Student Support’  and submit the required materials in the PORTFOLIO FORM here >>>


4.2 Buddy-up

Buddy-up with a new participant who needs extra support and guidance. This can be done through offline or online engagement, as long as the ambassador can provide support to their buddy with course-related issues or guidance.

 

Deadlines – Do this between: 

  • 23 February  – 5 April for ‘Technology and Society’
  • 9 March – 17 May for ‘Cultural Encounters
  • 18 May – 19 June for  Countering Hate Speech

Assessment

Make sure to complete the section ‘Student Support’  and submit the required materials in the PORTFOLIO FORM here >>>

5. Research

Contribute to research on Virtual Exchange conducted by the official Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange research team. 

You can choose one of the following ways to complete this task: 

 

5.1 Research interview

Participate in an interview which is part of official research about the impact of Virtual Exchange This interview is conducted by the research team of Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange.

 

5.2 Questionnaire 

Complete a questionnaire on your experience of the iOOC you took part in and on the Ambassador role. This is a specific questionnaire developed by the official research team of Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange 

 

Deadline

  • June 30 2020

 

Assessment

Make sure to complete the section ‘Research’  and submit the required materials in the PORTFOLIO FORM here >>>

Resources and Course Information

TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY (‘ التكنولوجيا و المجتمع ‘)

A 6-week, Arabic-spoken course. Participants in this Virtual Exchange learn about the relationship between technological and social developments through expert content as well as through intercultural dialogue groups. This course is suited to participants with an interest in social sciences, IT, communications, business, Arabic language and culture.


CULTURAL ENCOUNTERS: PERSPECTIVES ON POPULISM 

A 10-week, 5 ECTS, current affairs course from 9 March – 17 May, engaging young people from all over Europe and the Southern Mediterranean. This is our flagship course tackling topical, socio-political issues. This new course explores belonging and borders in the context of the rise of nationalism and populism. This intensive course provides the opportunity for deeper development of transversal skills such as confidence and communication. 

 


COUNTERING HATE SPEECH

‘Countering Hate Speech’ is the Interactive Open Online Course where participants learn about and discuss current challenges posed by hate speech in their communities and societies at large. Not only do participants engage in dialogue about the topic and get access to expert video lectures, but they also collaboratively work towards creating a campaign to counter hate speech in various forms. This makes ‘Countering Hate Speech’  an action-oriented course where participants are inspired, share knowledge and learn from each other.

  • Dates: 18 May – 19 June 2020
  • Duration: 5-weeks 
  • Language: English
  • Deadline to apply: 4 May 2020

 

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT iOOCs & ERASMUS+ VIRTUAL EXCHANGE

 

ALUMNI & PARTNER TESTIMONIALS: