Strategic framework for the integration of Blended Mobility and Virtual Exchange in Higher Education Institutions

The Strategic Framework is a set of actions supporting the integration of Blended Mobility (BM) and Virtual Exchange (VE) as regular and consolidated practices within the international activities of Higher Education Institutions across Europe. It recognises national and institutional differences, and the specific challenges educators face when implementing this innovative pedagogy. This set of actions is structured into the following five areas: Strategic Coordination Human, economic and IT resources Accreditation and Recognition Quality Sustainability The main targets are university leaders and managers, but also – indirectly – anybody concerned with the implementation of BM and VE within a HEI (such as the Internationalisation office, Academic Affairs, IT services and academic departments, offices dealing with inclusion and sustainability), as well as with relevant stakeholders outside the institution. This is due to the fact that the successful and sustainable implementation and integration of BM and VE requires collaboration both within and outside academia. This is why the Strategic Framework ends with a summary of recommendations resulting from the findings of the FRAMES project, and aimed at policymakers as well as policy advocates to raise their awareness of the value of BM and VE and to ensure governmental and institutional support for the integration of BM and VE in Higher Education across Europe and beyond. This Strategic Framework is built upon the lessons learnt from the FRAMES project, and in consideration of the European policies in the field – EU Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027) and European Strategy for Universities (2022). Reference is made to the research carried out to draft and publish the FRAMES Scenarios Report, the interviews made with practitioners for the two rounds of the FRAMES training, and the FRAMES Toolkit, aimed at HE professionals