What is a virtual exchange? Maybe not what you think. We dig deeper into that in this special edition of Absolutely Intercultural coming to you from Denmark. The latest show is mainly about promoting dialogue between different groups of people. So what is dialogue? And can you tell the difference between dialogue and, for example, debate?
absolutely virtual
We talk a lot on Absolutely Intercultural about student exchanges, either going abroad to study or to work. Today I want to talk about a very different and new type of exchange, a virtual exchange that brings different types of mainly young people together to talk about important issues and find out what the differences and similarities are between them but more important perhaps, to try and understand the reasons for those different perspectives. The Erasmus+ virtual exchange started this year and can be part of your studies, or you can join as an interested individual. You can also train to be one of the dialogue facilitators, as I have done.
The new Erasmus+ Exchange programme is based on the success of the Soliya approach to promoting dialogue online. To find out more I talked to Katja Riikonen in Finland who has been a key player in the launch of the Erasmus+ virtual exchange earlier this year. And the next facilitated training starts on November 11th so you can sign up now.
So could a Virtual Exchange be a stepping stone to a face to face exchange?
Or is it enough that taking part would help you to bridge the differences between you and people with very different perspectives?
See an example of one of the Virtual Exchange programmes at the Sharing Perspectives Foundation.