Young people advance their global competence when participating in virtual exchange, according to the latest AFS research study. This research and report is funded by the Stevens Initiative, which is housed at the Aspen Institute and is supported by the Bezos Family Foundation. The study titled, “Assessing the intercultural impact of virtual exchange for high school students” builds on previous research about virtual exchange that AFS completed in 2021, and is published within AFS’ strategic efforts in advancing active global citizenship worldwide.
The results of this study are highly relevant for those interested in delivering virtual exchanges at scale: delivered in a group-based environment in an institutional setting, such as a school or university. Our findings demonstrate that global competence development can be achieved through such programs and with participants who are representative of multiple school-aged populations within the school systems.