Warwick-Potsdam Virtual Exchange Communities

For more than a decade, the German team at the Language Centre has been running virtual collaboration projects between Higher Education institutions in Germany (Stuttgart, Potsdam, Cologne) and the University of Warwick (Language Centre) that encourage students to be producers of knowledge whilst enhancing their international and intercultural awareness. Students are supported to develop a deeper understanding of a variety of significant cultural experiences and acquire the ability to negotiate cultural meanings. They are encouraged to engage in autonomous exploration of culture, reflect on their own cultural background and acquire an open mind. They simultaneously develop linguistic and transcultural communication skills as they work in bilingual teams to perform a variety of student-led research tasks.

Most importantly, these communities, delivered through Viva Engage and online Teams sessions, have enabled students in Potsdam (Germany) and Warwick to establish meaningful and lasting connections beyond borders, exploring issues and topics that are of personal interest to them and relevant to young people who are about to embark on their professional lives and employment in challenging times. The impact of these communities has extended beyond our students’ University experience and has resulted in independently organised exchange visits, international internship opportunities and long-lasting friendships.

Our Communities have been listed as an outstanding example of good educational practise on the Potsdam COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) website: Intercultural and linguistic student exchange Potsdam - Warwick - Case Studies - Teaching - COIL.UP - University of Potsdam

To take part in a Potsdam-Warwick community, please register for a German language module at the Language Centre at B2 or C 1 level or contact j.seifert@warwick.ac.uk