Virtual Exchange
Virtual Exchange is an innovative and accessible international experience that does not involve physical mobility, but relies on the support provided by technologies and the use of a lingua franca as a means of communication.
It consists of a training activity, organised in synergy with international universities, in which frontal/traditional teaching plays a marginal role, in favour of a collaborative experience centred on the student and group work, with the aim of developing a shared project and/or discussing interdisciplinary topics, according to a challenge-based approach.
The groups, made up of students from different institutions, meet on collaboration platforms independently or with the support of facilitators, whose role is to encourage the active participation of all group members, fostering the creation of a positive and collaborative environment for discussion.
Virtual Exchange therefore differs profoundly from virtual mobility, which instead consists of attending lessons delivered remotely (in synchronous or asynchronous mode) by lecturers from the host university, which will also award the academic credits at the end of the course.
There are several models to choose from to integrate the various Virtual Exchange activities into degree courses.
- Integration of VE into an existing course unit, as a teaching module. To this end, lecturers can replace part of the content in their own syllabus with the virtual exchange activity.
- Activity offered as a standalone course unit, recognised with credits and a grade
- Activity offered as a traineeship
- Inclusion of VE as an extracurricular activity, without the award of credits (possibly with the awarding of an Open Badge).
The University of Padua issues a specific Open Badge intended for students who have successfully completed a virtual exchange programme.
The Open Badge may be issued to students of the University of Padua and of the other universities participating in the exchange, subject to notification of the names by the relevant lecturers.
The Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP) are a new funding scheme under the Erasmus+ Programme. They consist of international teaching activities that combine virtual collaboration and a short physical mobility period, offering “challenge-based” activities. Blended Intensive Programmes must award students at least 3 ECTS credits.
NICE is a virtual exchange programme aimed at all students at the University of Padua. It is structured into 7 teaching modules with the objective of promoting the development of transferable skills, particularly entrepreneurial and intercultural skills, relationship-building and collaboration skills, teamwork skills, and a problem-solving approach, with the aim of fostering professional growth and entry into the world of work.
Students will work both individually and in interdisciplinary and multicultural groups with the aim of arriving at the solution to an operational question (Global Challenge).
CVEinAI is a virtual exchange programme aimed at all students of the University of Padua. It is organised into 5 modules of synchronous and asynchronous activities, with the aim of promoting intercultural dialogue and a critical approach to the topic of artificial intelligence.
Students will work both individually and in interdisciplinary and multicultural groups with the aim of reaching the resolution of an operational question, together with peers from the other universities participating in the programme.
CliVEx is a virtual exchange programme aimed at all students of the University of Padua. It is organised over 10 weeks of synchronous and asynchronous activities, with the aim of promoting intercultural dialogue on the topic of climate change.
Students will work both individually and in interdisciplinary and multicultural groups with the objective of reaching a solution to an operational question (Climate Action Project), together with fellow students from the other universities participating in the programme.
The virtual exchange combines part of the Didattica della Chimica course (offered by UNIPD) with a scientific English course (offered by Bordeaux) and is a compulsory component for students attending the course in Padua.
The aim is to reflect on the meaning of teaching chemistry correctly and engagingly, while also combining the acquisition of scientific language in English.
Students will work in intercultural and interdisciplinary groups to produce a final educational video.
At the end of the experience, a specific open badge will be issued.
- lead lecturer: Prof.ssa Laura Orian (Department of Chemical Sciences)
- partners: University of Padua, Università di Bordeaux (France), Università di Giessen "Justus-Liebig" (Germany)
The virtual exchange is open to students on the Economics Degree Programmes at the University of Padua and to their peers on the design Degree Programme at Università di Scienze Applicate di Trier. The programme has a strong interdisciplinary focus, as participants are required to develop a research project on family businesses and then present it through the creation of an artistic artefact. Economics students will learn to be creative and to reflect on problems using a different perspective. Given that the global economic emphasis has shifted towards sustainable growth, more and more organisations, businesses and communities place greater value on creativity. At the same time, design students will learn to address economic and business issues, which are fundamental pillars of sustainability.
- contact lecturer: Prof.ssa Alessandra Tognazzo (DSEA)
- partners: University of Padua, Università di Scienze Applicate di Trier (Germany)
The virtual exchange focuses on the issue of how much and in what ways a low income may affect consumers’ ability to access healthy and nutritious food. The topic will be addressed through an interdisciplinary approach: the in-depth discussions will involve experts in medicine, nutrition, economics, law and natural resources. Companies and international organisations will also be involved.
- Academic contact: Prof.ssa Valeria Paganizza (TeSAF)
- Partners: University of Padua, Monash University (Australia)
Healthcare professionals are required to provide quality care to increasingly diverse populations. To provide culturally appropriate and safe healthcare, it is important that the education of healthcare professionals includes skills such as intercultural communication, effective teamwork and collaborative abilities.
The aim of this virtual exchange programme is to support the development of these skills, for which there is often little room in traditional university courses.
- Contact lecturer: Prof. Alberto Camuccio (DiMed)
- Partners: University of Padua, Monash University (Australia)
The virtual exchange is open to Psychology students, who will work together with their peers from Queen Mary University di Londra to prepare multimedia content on a number of topics related to animal psychology.
- Academic coordinator: Prof.ssa Lucia Regolin (DPG)
- Partners: University of Padua, Queen Mary University di Londra (Regno Unito)
The virtual exchange will address the topic of children's literature by adopting a transdisciplinary perspective and using the active learning teaching methodology. The topics, including sustainability, social justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, will be discussed by students with particular attention to the relationships between children and urban landscapes.
- Academic coordinator: Prof.ssa Marnie Campagnaro (FISPPA)
- Partners: University of Padua, University of Danzica (Poland), University of Orléans (France)
Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange (E+VE) is a pilot initiative promoted by the European Commission in 2018 with the aim of expanding the reach of the Erasmus+ programme through the Virtual Exchange instrument and by offering a wide range of activities.
Projects and Mobility Office
Palazzo Anselmi
Lungargine del Piovego 1 - 35131 Padua
tel. 049.8276139
email: virtual.exchange@unipd.it