Connecting students with international partners, including students in other countries, allows for authentic global career readiness. While the value of traveling and studying abroad can be transformative, a minority of students are able to take advantage of this opportunity due to a variety of factors including time and money. Virtual exchange, however, provides an accessible, affordable, and flexible option for delivering global learning. Use the resources below to get started with virtual exchange in your classes!
 

Professional Development Module (Coming Soon!)

The new program, A Future Ready Workforce: Preparing Community College Students for Success in a Global Economy, features short 15-minute online professional development modules for technical faculty at postsecondary institutions. These modules are available for free (log-in required) in partnership with ACTE. Faculty Module 9:  Do It Yourself Global Collaboration, provides faculty with “do it yourself” strategies to make international CTE program connections. Faculty will learn to utilize online resources and technology tools, how to find international partners, create lessons or projects together, and implement an international collaboration.

Tools

• International Collaboration Map: This tool allows you to map out a plan as you create your own global collaboration. Designed to be used with the module above, however, you can use it on your own as well.
• Global Competence Self-Assessment: Use this tool to assess your global competence and your mindset before embarking on a collaborative exchange.

Resources 

• American Councils on Education (ACE), has virtual exchange programs and resources. 

• Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC), provides opportunities for faculty to travel abroad to do research.

• Gazelle International assists faculty in creating global virtual exchange projects aligned to their curricular goals. 

• Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge from IREX supports the development of workforce readiness skills through virtual exchange. 

• Institute of Study Abroad Ireland has virtual exchange resources for faculty.

• Soliya is a virtual exchange discussion program which can be utilized with any course. 

• Stevens Initiative builds career readiness through virtual exchange programs between students in the United States and the Middle East and North Africa.

• SUNY Center for Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL): SUNY pioneered the COIL model of virtual exchange and 

Readings

• Global Digital Exchange and Student Learning Outcomes, from Global Cities Inc. 
• The Stevens Initiative produces many reports and gathers resources on their website, including: Virtual Exchange Guide for Senior International Officers, Evaluating Virtual Exchange, and many more.