Expanding the reach and scope of the Erasmus+ programme through virtual exchanges

Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange

Sharing Perspectives Foundation is an implementer of Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange by developing Interactive Open Online Courses. Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange is a project under the Erasmus+ programme, providing an accessible, ground-breaking way for young people to engage in intercultural learning.

Through a range of activities, this project aims to expand the reach and scope of the Erasmus+ programme through Virtual Exchanges, which are technology-enabled people-to-people dialogues sustained over a period of time.

Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange offers a safe online community to participate in facilitated discussions, increasing intercultural awareness and building 21st Century skills through Virtual Exchange. The project encourages and promotes intercultural dialogue, employability, and citizenship, strengthening the youth dimension of the EU neighbourhood policy.

Working with Youth Organisations and Universities, the project is open to any young person aged 18-30 residing in Europe and the Southern Mediterranean.

This flagship project is established under a contract with the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency, financed by the European Union’s budget, and it is implemented by a consortium composed of Search for Common Ground, Anna Lindh Foundation, UNIMED, Sharing Perspectives Foundation, Soliya, UNICollaboration, Kiron Open Higher Education, and Migration Matters.

Read more about Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange Interactive Open Online Courses in this brochure or on the Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange Hub.

 

 

European Refuge/es

European Refuge/es is the first Erasmus+ virtual exchange programme by the Sharing Perspectives Foundation. The course follows the virtual exchange format for higher education institutions developed by the Sharing Perspectives Foundation in which refugee and non-refugee students from Europe and the Southern Mediterranean follow one course together online. The format includes providing expert content; enabling the exchange of ideas and perspectives in a video-conference room; and facilitating an interactive assignment that brings the online experience to the offline reality of the participants.

Introduction to Dialogue Facilitation

Building on years of experience in online dialogue facilitation, the Sharing Perspectives Foundation and Soliya have developed a training course “Introduction to Dialogue Facilitation” as part of Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange. In this training course students learn the functions of dialogue and virtual exchange; identify key principles and components of facilitation; and learn basic skills and approaches to successfully facilitate online dialogues. After completing the course, participants can continue their training with the Advanced Facilitation training and consequently become facilitators in one of the Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange activities.

Enhancement of existing MOOCs with Virtual Exchange pedagogy

We complement existing Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), or parts thereof, with a Virtual Exchange pedagogical model in order to strengthen the intercultural learning components within these MOOCs. By adding Virtual Exchange methodologies to existing MOOCs the Sharing Perspectives Foundation aims to show how Virtual Exchange can contribute to ‘regular’ online courses. We target both university students as well as the general public with these Virtual Exchange ‘powered’ MOOCs. During the first half of 2018 different MOOCs will be identified and tailored Virtual Exchange methodologies developed. The first virtual exchange powered MOOCs are expected to run from the summer of 2018.