The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) announces a Call for Papers for the conference Virtual Exchange – borderless mobility between the European Higher Education Area and regions beyond in Berlin, Germany, on 11 December 2019.

Background:
The conference takes place in the context of the Global Policy Dialogue, an initiative dedicated to strengthening the relations between the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and other Higher Education regions in the world. Hence, the Global Policy Dialogue reflects on matters of common concern and relevance for higher education policies with the aim to stimulate cooperation and share ideas and policies that can be mutually beneficial. The main forum for the Global Policy Dialogue is the Bologna Policy Forum, held regularly in conjunction with the Ministerial Bologna Conference since 2009. The next Bologna Policy Forum will take place at the Bologna Conference in Rome in June 2020.

Description of the conference and Call for Papers:
“Virtual exchange” constitutes an important element in the current Higher Education internationalisation discourse. In the conference context, virtual exchange is highlighted in its role as facilitator for academic cooperation, especially by enhancing, supporting or completing physical mobility and as a component of internationalisation@home approaches.
With a special focus on the relations between the European Higher Education Area and other regions worldwide, we will address the potential of collaborative online learning scenarios and present good interaction practises. This implies raising questions about restructuring student journeys, the effectiveness of virtual learning experiences, or the need for and use of common standards and guidelines such as quality assurance etc.

Therefore, we invite to submit proposals pertaining the following topics:

• Boosting exchange: digital formats as a mean to enhance international cooperation between EHEA and other regions
• Curriculum development: how to embed (sustainable) virtual exchange formats in study programs in order to create networked, cross-campus study programs and assure its quality?
• Administration and management: which governance and IT infrastructures (such as federated campus management systems etc.) of Higher Education Institutions to develop with special regard to virtual exchange?
• Building up expertise and capacities: what (new) skill and competence challenges arise for higher education students, teachers and staff?

Selected candidates receive free accommodation for the duration of the conference and travel subsidies. Additionally, a EUR 500 lump sum is awarded for each selected proposal. The papers will be presented at the conference and published in a conference publication.

Higher Education practitioners and researchers of all academic fields are encouraged to send their abstracts and CVs via the online tool no later than 30 August 2019, 5 PM CET.

More information here and here.