The International Virtual Exchange Conference (IVEC) has announced it will now take place virtually from 14-16 September 2020 due to Covid-19.
The conference, originally planned to take place at Newcastle University, will explore how intercultural and international learning can be made more accessible.
It will attract delegates from universities representing lecturers, researchers, deans, directors, and internationalisation officers who have the capability to transform learnings from VE development into practice.
The conference will include a virtual tour of NewcastleGateshead’s area, local music and a pub quiz.
Virtual Exchange (VE) is a research-informed practice that delivers structured participatory education programmes to individuals from different cultures and communities around the world.
Newcastle University has pledged a commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals, whilst VE aims to increase sustainable learning opportunities.
Paul Szomoru, director of business events, NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, said: “While we are disappointed that delegates will not get to experience NewcastleGateshead first-hand, it’s brilliant that IVEC will still be showing off the region virtually. Hosting the conference virtually is testament to the city’s position as England’s fastest-growing tech sector outside of London, as well as the impactful research coming out of Newcastle University.
“We are looking forward to welcoming back events to the region when it is safe to do so but in the meantime we are working really hard to facilitate virtual, and moving forward hybrid, events that are still rooted in the destination.”
Dr Müge Satar, chair of the local organising committee and Newcastle University lecturer of Applied Linguistics and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at the School of Education, Communication, and Language Sciences, added: “Virtual exchange offers intercultural contact and international educational experiences to people who are unable to travel. But that’s not our only objective here.
“Virtual learning is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly vehicle for knowledge and idea exchange, and we hope that this conference will inspire the academic community to develop VE and its potential reach and impact further still.”
