Rethinking International Exchange with Digital
Bringing agility and innovation to international higher education
02/2021 What's inside
Information Insights
Digital exchange and digital Rocío Robinson - AIT, Leading transformation House for the Latin American Why international exchange makes Region, University of St. Gallen a difference Amanda Crameri - Movetia, the Stakeholders and personas Swiss National Agency for Exchange Common challenges and solutions and Mobility Robert Buttery - University of Applied Sciences and Arts Recommendations & Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW resources
Best practices Example projects Resources Introduction
Leveraging digital to transform digital exchange a reality, both international education requires a students and faculty require mindset shift, upskilling, and storytelling and motivation to considerable effort to build a network. understand and champion the value of And as a result, substantially more online international exchange. students gain access to valuable intercultural experiences that ready This paper comes as a result of an them for work in international and online roundtable organised by dispersed teams. swissnex India and Movetia in 2020 and of conversations with diverse Swiss The additional challenges of the and international education pandemic are an opportunity to professionals. It provides best prioritise rethinking international practices, case studies, resources, and education while drawing on agile and inspiration to guide educators and innovation methodologies. In lieu of administrators to advocate for, launch, short term fixes, international digital measure, and maintain successful exchange efforts should be integrated digital international exchange. parts of larger, university-wide digital Sebastien Hug transformation processes. To make CEO & Consul General Swissnex in India
2 Why digital
Accessible Effective Resilient Sustainable
Digital exchange is Intercultural Ingraining innovation Less travel reduces highly inclusive interactions are deeper helps withstand future carbon footprint and more sustained disruptions
Online international exchange is part of your digital transformation
As universities around the world Debunking misconceptions accelerate their digitalisation plans, they should include their International digital exchange is not internationalisation initiatives as part simply finding new ways to keep of this transformation. The strategies people in front of screens. It is about are relevant to both international and using digital tools to build connections domestic learning. with people in dispersed locations, often in addition to in-person Digital exchange requires rethinking meetings. It can include pedagogical techniques in order to communicating through familiar apps increase access to and success of or social media, participating in offline intercultural programmes while activities, or experimenting with new leveraging technology to unlock digital tools for collaboration. Crucially, teaching potential. Stakeholders should the tools serve the learning goals. This learn strategies in agile, iteration, and is an opportunity to reevaluate and innovation in order to be able to apply improve upon traditional practices. them adaptively to their initiatives.
3 Where to begin
Common blockers to Quick tips
international exchange Just do it. Use the Lean Startup methodology and learn by doing: Motivating students and faculty test, review, iterate Lack of time and resources Make a stakeholder map and bring Tool overload and tech fatigue them on early Lack of experience leveraging Explore ways to bring together technology innovatively research and classroom learning Inadequate funding and network Utilise your network - alumni groups, research cohort, partner institutions, swissnex, Movetia, and Stakeholders involve students Redirect money that can’t be used Faculty because of Covid-19, like travel Administrators budgets International education offices Help stakeholders realize the value Course developers for their own priorities - research, Students career, institutional goals University leaders Develop a culture of digital learning Campus IT professionals and iteration International partners Take a “hackathon” approach by tackling issues collaboratively with an interdisciplinary group
4 University student University professor
My plans to study abroad fell It might seem like this is the year through because of Covid-19. for more digital programmes but Virtual exchange is just not the actually, I’m just trying to keep same. I’d rather postpone my trip my head above water moving my until next year. usual lectures online.
Key attributes Key attributes Interest in international experiences Not a "digital person” Likes and expects digital elements in Considers digital and international classroom learning projects separate from teaching work Has resources for extended travel Believes in the power of in-person relationships Pain points Doesn’t understand digital mobility Pain points Views digital mobility as a poor Not enough time replacement to physical mobility Other priorities take precedence Worried about networking and job Lack of support and clear strategic hunting digitally communication from university Wants to travel for more than Lack of digital resources and academic reasons - to experience guidance living in another culture Can’t keep track of all the tech tools and doesn’t want to learn more
Key messages Key messages Showcase the innovative Instill a culture of continuous digital opportunity with storytelling and learning and upskilling as a strategic clarify misconceptions priority Highlight the different transferable Provide workshops, training, and skills gained from digital exchange coaching to faculty on digital skills Digital mobility is not a 1-1 Spark inspiration with examples of replacement for physical mobility programmes and projects at other Digital collaboration skills will be institutions increasingly important for future Engage in storytelling to make clear employers the value of international exchange
5 Applied sciences student Programme administrator
I don’t think studying abroad is Despite access to many digital relevant to my degree, plus, it’s resources, I fail to see big results expensive. My priority is starting from their use. I understand the work quickly so I can support my potential but don’t know how to family. move forward.
Key attributes Key attributes Has family obligations Remembers own study abroad Focused on personal saving goals. experience fondly Wants to buy a house Attended a workshop on COIL last Prefers easy, all-inclusive travel year Parent to two small kids Pain points Likes following tech trends No ideal home study space Doesn’t like sitting in front of a Pain points screen all day Knowledge of many tech tools but Doesn’t understand the benefit of unsure how to leverage innovatively international experiences for their Hectic shared home office space profession in Switzerland Motivated, but lacking network and internal resources
Key messages Key messages Communicate the professional and Assign a digital coach for the full personal benefits of international length of a project exchange for all career paths, Conduct training sessions on how to domestic and international use technology to serve goals Engage students in projects that Senior faculty set examples they propose themselves Support top-down strategy with Develop innovative programmes that internal resources include both online and offline Help connect potential champions elements with international partners
6 How to convince stakeholders
International digital exchange...
Prepares students for work in international and geographically dispersed teams Provides faculty with creative and interdisciplinary ways to pursue research interests Raises visibility of your institution as an innovative learning destination Introduces students and faculty to new 84% perspectives and modes of analysis of Swiss higher education students are Increases opportunities for meaningful not mobile* global collaboration Brings the value of international exchange to a significantly wider audience Surpasses traditional learning and mobility limitations by making it more inclusive Teaches valuable transferable skills in leadership, digital innovation, and critical thinking
*See first notation p. 9
7 Insights Methods for conducting virtual fieldwork - now is the time to reexamine and experiment
At the Leading House for the Latin toolkit with "homework" activities for American Region, one of our most the respondents, such as writing a important tasks is funding researchers poem, taking a photo, making videos of so that they can travel and conduct their surroundings, or even building fieldwork. With travel restrictions and something together. Playfulness invites closed archives, the pandemic brought intimacy. a lot of traditional research to a halt. The reality, though, is that researchers I learned of one researcher who, when should be prepared to conduct unable to visit an indigenous basket fieldwork in times of crisis of any form: archive, instead learned firsthand, over be it pandemics, natural disasters, a series of video calls with the political upheavals, etc. We should also community, how to weave baskets be reconsidering what type of travel is himself, collecting valuable oral necessary. Our current priority at the histories in the process. Leading House is helping researchers There are also a plethora of digital move forward with their work. non-traditional secondary sources to Remote practices have existed for a turn to, like chatrooms and forums. As long time. I find the possibilities of scientists, we need to maintain our combining digital and analog tools to rigorous academic standards, but it is promote human-centred innovation worthwhile to reconsider how we use and discovery very exciting. Cultural primary and secondary data. Virtual is probes are an excellent example of this not a substitute for in-person and British professors such as Helen meetings, but it can be a powerful Kara and William Gaver have enhancement for Social Science interesting suggestions for creative research. Hopefully, in the future, we remote research. will have the luxury to do both.
Surprisingly, sometimes people share and learn more when participating in Dr. Rocío Robinson remote-method, open-ended, hands- Senior Manager AIT Startups. Senior on assignments than they would in Manager Leading House for the Latin traditional ethnographic exchange. At American Region. Lecturer at HSG present, we have academics conducting [email protected] interviews over WhatsApp or asking participants to share through journal entries. Some researchers have sent a
8 Movetia's vision Internationalisation as a fundamental element of every student’s path
The mobility of students and university An educational exchange in another staff is a key internationalisation country is clearly a unique cultural measure for higher education experience and it cannot be replaced institutions: stays abroad help by digital exchange - even if graduates to acquire the necessary universities and students came up with international, intercultural, specialist such creative solutions during the and personal skills and boost their Corona pandemic, for example with employability and chances of access to virtual cookery meetings or yoga a globalised working world. In a post classes. On the other hand, COVID-19 future, additional digitalisation helps learning and competences such as resilience, stress collaborating without actually tolerance and flexibility will play a travelling and is extending the learning major role, as well as curiosity, the environment. Digital progress opens up ability to never stop asking questions new possibilities and it can be seen as and critical thinking. All these skills are a perfect pairing to internationalisation also among those we see developed at home, but certain risks or barriers during a mobility period abroad. have to be mitigated. How can we widen the participant circle and what Unfortunately, only a minority of additional strategies can be pursued to students participate in study abroad help preparing resilient graduates and programmes and not every institution to create high-quality learning promotes mobility in a strategic way. experience based on interaction and According to a study by the Federal exchange? Statistical Office, only 16% spend at least 3 months on exchange during their studies (1). A European study that includes all degrees at tertiary level, including colleges of higher education and degree mobility, i.e. when you 1.Reference: number of 2016 graduates. The statistics are based on the figures of the universities, the spend an entire degree course abroad, universities of applied sciences and the universities comes to 12% for the 2017 graduates of teacher education. - Mobilität von Studierenden (2). Additional interesting facts and der Schweizer Hochschulen 2013-2016 /page 32. 2. Mobilitätsanzeiger - Hochschulbildung figures can be found in the Movetia Hintergrundbericht 2018/2019 statistics (3). 3. Swiss-European Mobility Programme
9 Movetia's resources Funding instruments
With financial means from the Swiss In parallel and in addition to the confederation, the Swiss national support of blended mobility, Agency Movetia supports efforts of institutions can apply for funding for higher education institutions to provide blended intensive programmes. These international learning opportunities. are short, intensive programmes that For the time after the pandemic, use innovative ways of learning and Movetia wants to combine the teaching, including the use of online strengths from both experiences: cooperation. Such programmes can physical mobility and digital exchange. build up the academic framework to Before and after a stay in a different implement blended mobility. country, students should be able to network digitally and exchange. We Within frameworks for international want to make this possible by cooperation, such as Erasmus+ or the introducing new financing instruments Movetia International Programme, for institutions and students. On the institutions can internationalise their one hand, from 2022 onwards, the curriculum by embracing the classic physical mobility offer will be opportunities of online technologies enriched with the so-called blended and pedagogies such as COIL or by mobility (provided the budget is fostering virtual experiences in available): a combination of virtual and addition to physical mobility. physical mobility. In concrete terms, this means that the duration of With these new instruments, that physical mobility for students will be target both the individual and the reduced to between 5 days and 5 weeks institutional, Movetia hopes to increase for this format. To enhance the effects the number of students and staff of a short physical mobility, students benefiting from an international should remain digitally connected with perspective. the host university before and after the mobility.
Amanda Crameri Head of the Higher Education Sector and Board Member at Movetia, the Swiss National Agency for Exchange and Mobility [email protected]
10 In practice Collaborative Online International Learning COIL
Swiss and American MBA Future English teachers students consulted for US collaborated in Switzerland startups and Israel
60 students from the School of Students from Pädagogische Management Fribourg HEG-FR and Hochschule Thurgau PHTG and Gordon Suffolk University in Boston worked in College of Education in Haifa, Israel mixed teams as junior consultants collaborated over five weeks. solving specific business challenges posed by two early-stage American In a course on Multilingualism, students startup companies. Part of a for-credit worked together on tasks, such as the course at each institution and benefits of virtual exchange in the orchestrated by swissnex. English foreign language classroom. Participating in exchange while Startups provided background discussing exchange for school materials and groups collaborated children, gave first-hand insights into digitally. Pre-covid, the programme the benefits and challenges. included a one-week visit to Boston. This was a teacher-led initiative with Navigating the complexity of working the goal of planting the seed of future in a virtual trans-Atlantic team was an exchanges in soon-to-be-teachers. It important intercultural component. was also a chance for institutional collaboration in a period without the possibility of physical exchange. Outcomes and learnings Came out of a desire to move away Outcomes and learnings from “innovation tourism” and The students clearly enjoyed toward longstanding learning learning about each other's outcomes language(s) and culture and several Students formed deeper teams have stayed in touch relationships with each others and The experiential and intercultural earned first-hand business learning experience was considered experience an added value by the students Very positive feedback from all Live exchanges were most effective stakeholders and preferred by most participants
Learn more Learn more Jonas Brunschwig Gerit Jaritz - Lecturer in English and Deputy CEO at Swissnex in Boston Head of International Relations PHTG [email protected] [email protected]
11 In practice Summer school & Academy
Learners from every continent Swiss and South Asian gathered online for summer students tackle global courses sustainable development goals in online Academy University of Zurich UZH offered interdisciplinary online summer In a three-week academy, students and courses to local and international young professionals build skills to students. UZH partnered with CIL at UC address the UN Agenda 2030 – Berkeley to offer social workshops. Sustainable Development Goals Topics: effective communication and (SDGs). collaboration in diverse teams. Special focus on climate change, waste Outcomes and learnings management, and biodiversity. The Students reported a 73% positive Academy involves academics, rating as a valuable international grassroots, and civic leaders from experience (same as in-person South Asia as speakers and teachers. years) Digital format allowed for a new Programme offered by the Clusters of university partnership that Cooperation in the Global South otherwise wouldn't have been (CLOC) and sponsored by Swiss possible due to travel costs universities Development and Working across timezones was a Cooperation Network (SUDAC). challenge but provided good preparation for working globally Learn more Games helped bring students Prof. Dr. Swetha Rao Dhananka together and form friendships Professor at HES-SO Online is more accessible [email protected] financially. In future, may offer Knowledge2Action online academy online and in-person courses Use multiple tools and formats: video, chat, podcasts, breakout rooms, whiteboards, quizzes, surveys, group work, workshops
Learn more Carmen Richard Senior Project Manager UZH [email protected] UZH International Summer Schools 12 In practice Events
Indian technical students Cybathlon pushed innovation connected with ETH recruiters in assistive technology with at TechFest expo online competition
The digitised version of the TechFest 51 teams from 20 countries competed Bombay event included talks, to develop state-of-the-art assistance workshops, and networking for systems in different time zones and students and academics. The aim is to locations. spark excitement for science and technology and promote international The atmosphere of an in-person event collaboration. was missed, but some teams found they could focus better. ETH showcased their facilities and innovations with video tours and Event's thesis: technology should serve introductions to current researchers people. A relevant concept when and projects. reimagining the event for online.
Learn more Learn more ETH booth at TechFest Bombay Cybathlon
Swiss and Middle Eastern university students will compete in the Circular Youth Challenge
Over several months, interdisciplinary teams of 5-10 students from multiple universities will compete to tackle two challenges: waste generation and youth unemployment.
Faculty members will participate as mentors and judges. The programme includes workshops and feedback rounds for the teams. Winners will have the chance to showcase their projects at the Swiss Pavilion in Dubai.
The goal is to build strong relationships between academic institutions and empower students to tackle pressing real-world issues.
Learn more Dante Larini - Project Manager swissnex Mobile Expo 2020 Dubai [email protected]
13 In practice Camp & Platform
Entrepreneurs from Brazil and Students experience academic Switzerland accelerate their and intercultural exchange startups
Academia-Industry Training AIT is a The School of Business University of collaboration between The Leading Applied Sciences Northwestern House for the Latin American Region Switzerland (FHNW) successfully and swissnex Brazil. 20 participants piloted a virtual exchange platform for spend two weeks transforming research Swiss and international business into market applications and students. The courses encompass developing business skills. management studies and intercultural competences, as well as promote close Benefits of going virtual collaboration between international More decision-makers from big Brazilian companies could join with partners. reduced time in transit Outcomes and learnings Possible to have speakers and The virtual exchange platform has mentors join from all over the received excellent reviews though 85% country. In-person iterations had of students surveyed said they also people just from Rio and Sao Paulo want physical mobility as soon as it Outcomes and learnings becomes possible. Good feedback from students, especially for the 1x1 mentoring FHNW is developing and extending Somewhat difficult to build hybrid exchange mobility modules as a relationships over digital channels part of its comprehensive portfolio. Important to build in breaks and Learn more include interactive talks Breakout rooms are essential for Robert Buttery participants to exchange and get to Head of International Relations FHNW know each other [email protected] Future iterations will likely take the FHNW Business Virtual Exchange form of a hybrid model
Learn more Danielle Cohen - Startups & Innovation Manager, Swissnex in Brazil [email protected] Academia-Industry Training (AIT)
14 Insights Weaving virtual exchange into an institutional strategy
Virtual exchange is providing an Digitalisation and internationalisation innovative path to forge stronger were already integral parts of the relationships with partner universities. FHNW strategy. The pandemic added For senior IROs with large existing extra impetus to the university’s networks, it’s relatively easy to priorities, as lectures and exams were leverage our contacts across digital converted into 100% online or adapted platforms, while reducing conference formats at breakneck speed. travel and helping sustainability goals. However, for junior colleagues and Faculty faced an immediate increase in students, it can be daunting to build an workload, plus the ensuing technology academic and professional network fatigue. The FHNW has had a digital from scratch online. Thus, it’s learning support unit (Learning Lab) for important for senior IROs to take the several years, which proved to be a initiative and actively connect crucial hub in supporting rapid course students, faculty, and administrators. transitions.
Our International Office works closely It takes a lot of groundwork but virtual with degree programme managers and exchange is a great enhancement to faculty to support and promote digital FHNW’s internationalisation offering. mobility projects. This is done through We continue to be at the cutting edge direct engagement or it is nurtured in of developing purposeful programmes continuing education and research that build knowledge, professional projects. skills, and real-world connections.
Supporting faculty & students
Support bottom-up initiatives with Robert Buttery top-down strategy and resources Prof. Robert Buttery, Head of Senior IROs actively lead International Relations for University international community building of Applied Sciences and Arts Identify and nurture champions Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) Anticipate and address increased [email protected] workloads Listen to students, involve them, and build courses they need Educate students on the transferable career skills gained from international experiences
15 Resources
Information Organisations
swissnex Google Drive resources Movetia folder from online event swissnex Network
EVOLVE - What is Virtual Exchange? EADTU EAIE - Your Virtual Exchange European Association for Reading List International Education EAIE SwissCore - Rethinking student Erasmus+ mobility after corona DAAD Brussels - Internationalising Facts & figures Teacher Education in Europe – Is virtual collaboration the “new way Mobility of students at Swiss to go”? universities 2013-2016 Swiss-European Mobility Examples & methodology Programme 2018/19 Research-publishing.net - Designing Hochschulbildung and implementing virtual exchange Hintergrundbericht 2018/2019 – a collection of case studies Corona in Education Study Remote fieldwork Overview State University of New York SUNY Doing fieldwork in a pandemic - COIL center Researching in the Age of COVID-19 Coventry University UK - COIL hub Collecting Qualitative Data - A Online International Learning Practical Guide to Textual, Media Projects Map and Virtual Techniques Erasmus+ Project Platform Doing Ethnography Remotely Open Virtual Mobility - Educational Cultural probes Resources & best practices ACE - Comprehensive Internationalization resource center
16 About us
swissnex is the Swiss global network Movetia is the Swiss National Agency connecting the dots in education, for Exchange and Mobility. We want all research, and innovation. Our mission young people to take part in an is to support the outreach and active extended exchange and mobility engagement of our partners in the scheme at least once during the course international exchange of knowledge, of their education. And we strive to ideas and talent. ensure that exchange, mobility, and international cooperation are firmly The five swissnex locations and their anchored in education policy. outposts are established in the world’s most innovative hubs. The core value Movetia promotes exchange, mobility, of the swissnex network consists of and cooperation in all education sectors ® in Switzerland, Europe, and connecting its partners to thriving worldwide. Mandated by the Swiss innovation ecosystems worldwide, Confederation and the Cantons, advising on trends and Movetia encourages and supports opportunities in science, education projects in school education, vocational and technology, education and training, higher promoting the visibility of Swiss education, adult education, and higher education and research extracurricular youth work. institutions, start-ups and other innovation-driven partner organizations, inspiring new ideas by promoting knowledge exchange.
Learn more [email protected] [email protected]