For educators, higher education institutions and youth organizations
Interactive Open Online Courses
Interactive Open Online Courses provide youth with the opportunity to learn both with and from their peers across cultural contexts and national boundaries in facilitated online meetings alongside relevant skill-building activities and dynamic content provided by expert academics and practitioners.
These courses combine the deep impact of intercultural exchange with the broad reach of online learning to allow more young people to have meaningful intercultural learning experiences as part of their formal or non-formal education. Interactive Open Online Courses are part of Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange. This project provides an accessible, ground-breaking way for young people to engage in intercultural learning.
Participants in Interactive Open Online Courses are provided with the opportunity to:
- Discuss the course themes with cultural others to learn about the viewpoints of others while critically reflecting on their own;
- Learn from expert academics and practitioners;
- Improve (English) language and communication skills;
- Build 21st-century skills that improve employability, including the ability to work in a virtual and intercultural environment;
- Build confidence, empathy and stimulate curiosity;
- Gain an Erasmus+ digital badge and become part of an international network of Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange alumni.
VIDEO EXPLAINER > This video explains how the course works and what students can expect when participating.
Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange
Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange is part of the Erasmus+ programme, providing an accessible, ground-breaking way for young people to engage in intercultural learning. Working with Youth Organisations and Universities, the programme is open to any young person aged 18-30 residing in Europe and the Southern Mediterranean.
Through a range of activities, Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange aims to expand the reach and scope of the Erasmus+ programme through Virtual Exchanges, which are technology-enabled people-to-people dialogues sustained over a period of time. For more information, visit the Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange hub here.
After successful completion of this course, participants are awarded an Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange Badge
Engage Students and Youth in Your Network
For a full list of course resources see the Coordinator Portal
|
2020 COURSES |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
13 April - 7 May: 'Youth, Peace and Security' 18 May – 19 June: ‘Countering Hate Speech’ 25 May - 24 June: ‘Sustainable Food Systems: A Mediterranean Perspective’ 1 June - 31 July: ‘Cultural Encounters: Perspectives on Populism’ (demand dependent) Various dates ‘Social Circles’ |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‘Youth, Peace and Security’
Based on expert content developed jointly by UNOY and Search for Common Ground, participants will be introduced to core concepts of violence, conflict and peace and provides a space to exchange ideas and perspectives with peers on the role of youth in conflict transformation.
This 4-week course is of specific interest to any young person curious about how to make a positive social change or understand more about conflict and peace, whether you are a student, a volunteer, or a young professional. paced-course, and participants are expected to interact and meet weekly exchange requirements alongside their peers.
Eligible applicants can register directly on the Exchange Portal using these links: English registration & Arabic registration. Deadline April 5
Workload at a glance: For more information see the Course Outline
Contact: For more information or support in offering this opportunity to students, please contact: yps@sharingperspectivesfoundation.com
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‘Countering Hate speech’
‘Countering Hate Speech’ is the Interactive Open Online Course where participants learn about and discuss current challenges posed by hate speech in their communities and societies at large. Not only do participants engage in dialogue about the topic and get access to expert video lectures, they also collaboratively work towards creating a campaign to counter hate speech in various forms.
This makes ‘Countering Hate Speech’ an action-oriented course where participants are inspired, share knowledge and learn from each other.
Eligible applicants can register directly on the Exchange Portal using this registration link. Deadline May 10
Workload at a glance For more information see the Course Outline.
Contact For more information or support in offering this opportunity to students, please contact: CHS@sharingperspectivesfoundation.com |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‘Sustainable Food Systems: A Mediterranean Perspective’
‘Sustainable Food Systems’ is a 5 week Interactive Open Online Course giving participants the chance to learn about the challenges and opportunities of the agricultural sector in the Mediterranean. It is guided by leading experts through a self-paced course. In addition, participants will engage in intercultural dialogue during live online group sessions where they get the chance to share their ideas, experiences and reflections with others with different cultural backgrounds. Topics that will be discussed in this course concern, for example; history and culture of agriculture in the Mediterranean; global-to-local challenges related to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals; EU policy frameworks and international agreements related to food and agriculture in the Mediterranean; and opportunities related to innovation and sustainability. Eligible applicants can register directly on the Exchange Portal using this registration link. Deadline May 17 Workload at a glance: For more information see the Course Outline.
Contact For more information or support in offering this opportunity to students, please contact: foodsystems@sharingperspectivesfoundation.com
‘Cultural Encounters: Perspectives on Populism’ *Please note, this course will run subject to demand. To indicate interest, please complete the form below*
‘Cultural Encounters: Perspectives on Populism’ is our flagship 9-week, 5 ECTS, current affairs course, engaging young people from all over Europe and the Southern Mediterranean. Participants will explore the new wave of anti-establishment politics gaining power around the world. Taking an often nationalist agenda, their policies are reshaping our relationship to neighbouring countries and cultures. These political regimes claim to speak for the people and many people feel a connection to this form of politics so what is the appeal and what is the impact on democracy? Stimulated by video lectures from expert academics and practitioners, participants exchange ideas and perspectives through Virtual Exchange and engage in an interactive community dialogue assignment that brings the online experience to the offline reality. This intensive course provides the opportunity for deeper development of transversal skills such as self-esteem, curiosity and cross-cultural communication skills and will be awarded Erasmus+ digital Badges highlighting the skills achieved. Workload at a glance: For more information see the Course Manual.
Form Please complete this summer 2020 form before April 13 2020 to let us know you are interested in engaging students in this Cultural Encounters summer course (for example to cater to the needs of students missing out on their international experiences).
Contact For more information or support in offering this opportunity to students, please contact: partner@sharingperspectivesfoundation.com |
| ‘Social Circles’
Social Circles are short, taster dialogue exchange opportunities, bringing together young people from various backgrounds, interested to participate in a series of online small group discussions about key issues that matter to youth in the world today.
This activity takes two weeks in total, including 2 online live group meetings, activities and assignments. The live online sessions are led by trained online dialogue facilitators and take 2-hours each. Here participants will get to know each other and discuss the theme of the Social Circle. This opportunity is open to all individuals aged 18-30 currently residing in Europe and the Southern Mediterranean. Participation is free of charge and you don’t need prior experience with Virtual Exchange. Eligible individuals that want to take part can apply independently. They can apply to join as many topical Social Circles as they want, or just try it once to get a taste of virtual exchange. Social Circles therefore is a great activity to pilot Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange and can serve as an introduction to other Erasmus+ Virtual Exchange activities. Workload at a glance: For more information see the Course Page
Topics and Dates
"What does solidarity mean in the current global crisis?"
"'What is the role of youth in taking action against climate change?”
"How to balance local culture and globalization?”
Contact For more information or support in offering this opportunity to students, please contact: socialcircles@soliya.net |