Where internationalisation and digitalisation intersect: designing a virtual exchange to enhance student teachers’ professional awareness as European teachers

Abstract

ABSTRACT Virtual exchange, a form of internationalisation at home, provides an opportunity to increase teacher access to international learning experiences, but so far it has mainly been studied in the context of foreign languages teacher education. This article explores the design and implementation of a virtual exchange between an Austrian and a French university for student teachers of various disciplines, aiming to enhance their professional awareness as European teachers. Deploying a design-based research approach, we designed the intervention and evaluated it on the basis of participants’ perceptions. Data were gathered through multiple methods and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings suggest that the effective delivery of a virtual exchange requires an established partnership, collaborative student tasks, and the use of synchronous online communication. Virtual exchange can extend student teachers’ professional awareness, developing their knowledge of other teacher education systems, appreciation of cultural diversity, and openness to transnational collaboration.