The updated version (3rd version) of the Virtual Exchange Guidebook (VEG) has been released taking into account outcomes of the 1st VE Week arranged for students in October 2024. This document outlines the importance, advantages and challenges of Virtual Exchanges (VEs) in climate education and training. The CLUVEX project is chosen as a reference for the lessons-learnt on Virtual Exchanges (VEs).
The VEG guidebook outlines man steps in planning and implementation of VEs, taking into account the key considerations and aspects for planning VEs (for educating moderators & for educating students participating in the VE Weeks). The efficiently and smoothly organized work by the CLUVEX Partners allowed to develop, test and implement the VEs for both moderators (Del 3.1) and students (Del 4.1).
The VEG guidebook presents a set of developed recommendations for the VE education, students, moderators, technical e-setups, VE concept (evaluating, assessing, studying and developing), and science communication and scaling up.
The VE education process requires determining learning outcomes for VEs (in CLUVEX there are 10) and earned bonuses for students (like ETCS credits, CLUVEX certificate, status of the Climate Messenger, opportunity to attend CU online courses free of charge) participated in the VE Week; outlining and preparing detailed VE program as well as educational materials including practical Climate Horizon exercise for the VE Week.
The involvement of students requires planning the Call-for-Students, setting up and opening online registration for them, choosing principles-criteria-procedure for their selection, integration of awarded ECTS credits into curricula (at participating universities), and organization of the CLUVEX certificate for all the students registered and participated in VEs (VE Weeks).
The involvement of moderators requires planning the Call-for-Moderators, and their education through online trainings about the CLUVEX project and VE concept overview, VE Week program and technical skills (DigiCampus, Zoom, Miro); Climate University MOOC online courses; soft skills; handbooks and materials; Climate Horizon exercise and tools for analysis of climate related data.
The technical e-setups require selection and organisation of the e-platforms and e-tools, approaches and technical tools to overcome language barriers, and recruiting technical staff for VE weeks.
The VE concept (evaluation, assessment, study and development) requires gathering feedback from participated moderators and students, studying the learning outcomes applying different method, and using assessment data for the VE Week program improvement
The science communication and scaling up require effective communication tools, strategies for scaling up VE concept through the CLUVEX relevant networks, promoting VE outcomes and networking beyond CLUVEX lifetime, ensuring long-term sustainability and institutional support; and fundraising and resource allocation beyond the project lifetime.
This VEG document will be updated (when it is necessary) based on feedback and comments from the participants (students and moderators) of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th VE Weeks for students to be carried out during 2025-2026.
If you are interested in further details of the CLUVEX project, please, contact the CLUVEX team members.
If you are interested to participate the project, please leave your own contact information here and we will get back to you.