Arqus showcases virtual exchange innovation at the ICI Final Conference
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13 Dec 2024
On 11 and 12 December 2024, Arqus actively participated in the Final Conference “Inclusive Comprehensive Internationalisation: Enhancing global learning opportunities for ALL students,” hosted at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Lisa Griggio, from the University of Padua, delivered a captivating presentation titled “Fostering inclusion through Virtual Exchange: An award-winning case study in Higher Education” during a panel on inclusive and internationalised teaching practices.
About the ICI project and conference
The Inclusive Comprehensive Internationalisation (ICI) project, funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, seeks to make internationalisation accessible to all students, promoting inclusivity, equity, and sustainability in higher education. It focuses on building critical internationalisation approaches, enhancing awareness, and fostering collaboration across diverse cultural and institutional contexts.
The conference featured panels and discussions on topics like diversity strategies in higher education, virtual exchange, and fostering inclusivity in teaching practices. Highlights included insights into internationalisation’s intersection with the hidden curriculum and approaches for boundary-crossing collaborations.
Arqus moVEs: Enhancing internationalisation and inclusion through multilingual virtual exchange
Lisa Griggio’s presentation highlighted the success of the Arqus moVEs programme, a pre-mobility virtual exchange initiative preparing students for international experiences through a multilingual, interdisciplinary learning environment. Spanning eight to ten weeks, Arqus moVEs connects students from Arqus universities, tackling global topics like climate change, social inequalities, and cultural traditions through synchronous and asynchronous activities.
The programme uses innovative methodologies to foster critical thinking, intercultural competence, and global engagement. Its inclusive design, underpinned by Universal Design for Learning principles, ensures accessibility for participants with diverse learning needs. Translanguaging mechanisms and “language bubbles” facilitate linguistic inclusivity, allowing students to communicate across linguistic barriers while retaining their unique cultural perspectives.
An award-winning approach: “Exhibit the family business”
The experience gained through Arqus moVEs directly influenced another pioneering project presented by Griggio and prof. Alessandra Tognazzo (Department of Economics and Business Sciences “Marco Fanno”) at the University of Padua: “Exhibit the Family Business: Course with Virtual Exchange.” This innovative course, incorporating a VE component, won the University of Padua’s internal selection for the 4th Arqus Teaching Excellence Award.
The project integrates family business studies with artistic and intercultural collaboration, merging real-world problems with academic inquiry. Structured in three tiers—icebreakers, critical issue discussions, and discipline-specific tasks—the course builds teamwork and inclusivity among diverse student cohorts. Inspired by the success of Arqus moVEs, the project emphasises transdisciplinary collaboration and cultural exchange, showcasing how VE transforms traditional learning into an engaging, inclusive experience.
Arqus at the forefront of teaching innovation
The participation of Arqus at the ICI Final Conference underscored its leadership in innovative and inclusive teaching practices. Through initiatives like Arqus moVEs and “Exhibit the Family Business,” the Alliance exemplifies how virtual exchange enhances learning, fosters global collaboration and aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
By integrating digital tools, intercultural dialogue and inclusive methodologies, Arqus continues to set a benchmark for higher education internationalisation. These transformative programmes not only prepare students for global challenges but also promote a vision of education that is equitable, diverse and future-focused. The Alliance remains committed to shaping a global academic community where all students have the opportunity to thrive.
