VIRTUAL EXCHANGE AND ITS ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

This chapter introduces the competences which are being developed as part of approaches to international education across the globe and also reviews the main approaches to developing these competences sets. The chapter then goes on to explore how Virtual Exchange can contribute to the development of the competence sets which students need to learn and work and to argue for its more widespread use and integration as a tool for preparing university students for the challenges of the globalised, networked world. 

Virtual Exchange aims to develop international curriculum through online intercultural collaboration and exchange in the classroom. This is because higher  education's response to the challenges and possibilities of globalization has come principally in the form of internationalisation. The author considers Foreign Language  and Business Studies as  disciplines which has recognised the relevance and potential of Virtual Exchange. 

On the one hand, failures in intercultural communication are treated as opportunities for learning and reflection; on the other hand, scientists are searching for ways to overcome breakdowns in communication due to cultural differences.