A virtual exchange between university students of Tourism and Business: connecting languages and cultures through a sustainable tourism project [TAPP-Virtual exchange]

Abstract

This paper examines a Virtual Exchange (VE) amongst 42 participants which took place with University of Limerick business students and Universidad of León tourism students. The primary aims of the VE were the development of disciplinary, language and intercultural skills. As part of the VE, students had to carry out a series of telecollaborative tasks over 10 weeks. For both groups, the final product of this project was a promotional video exhibiting places within Ireland and Spain. The main objective here was to attract tourism based on sustainable practices while learning and promoting their own heritage and local communities. This paper presents the project design, the tasks that the students carried out, together with some of the learning outcomes. This VE between students of the same age, sharing similar modules and personal interests, and with a strong curiosity for each other’s language and culture was highly motivational. The VE achieved the objectives of developing intercultural awareness and professional skills while covering curricula contents and objectives.